INTRODUCTION: The lack of large randomized trials in SARS-CoV-2 has limited knowledge to decide which mode of mechanical ventilation to use and the evidence is still evolving. Initially, patients with severe hypoxemia and average compliance attracted attention, and different patient phenotypes emerged. Later, as the disease progressed, its similarity to a typical severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was identified, with the different mechanical characteristics being explained by the natural course of the disease. OBJECIVES: The present article aimed to carry out a literature review of research and reports published, so far in scientific journals, on the differences between patients intubated for SARS due to COVID-19 and patients with SARS due to other respiratory causes. This is a literature review guided by scientific articles indexed in the National Library of Medicine (PubMED), Scientific Electronic Online (SciELO), Virtual Health Library (VBS), Systematic Reviews Journal (Cochrane) databases. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The importante point is that the protective mechanical ventilation was chosen for these situations. Being defined as one that has a low tidal volume (6 ml/kg of ideal body weight) to maintain the plateau pressure (Pplat)<28 cmH20 and the driving pressure (PD)<15 cmH2O, having as a starting point FIO2 100% (decreasing from 5% to 5% every 20-30 minutes, monitoring the patient's clinical status and avoiding hyperoxia from toxic effects), it reduces the risk of ventilator-induced lung injury. RESULTS: From the literature review, it appears that in the treatment of patients who required mechanical ventilation, regardless of the etiological characteristic of the disease (whether from SARS-CoV-2, or from an SARS due to other causes), there is no significant difference in the ventilation parameters. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: Once the patient is diagnosed with respiratory distress, the treatment starts from the ventilatory parameters that each patient requires. Therefore, the ventilator has the function of making the “protective ventilation” of the pulmonary alveoli.
