Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of biphasic positive airway pressure (Bilevel) ventilation and volume ventilation plus [VV+，including volume control plus (VC+) and volume support (VS)] on respiratory failure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods 63 patients with COPD complicated by acute respiratory failure were intubated and underwent mechanical ventilation for at least 24 hours.At the first patients were underwent assist-control (A/C) ventilation for 2 to 4 hours to obtain the suitable basic ventilatory parameters.Meanwhile，the hemodynamics and oxygen dynamic parameters were measured.Then the patients were randomly allocated to three groups with 21 patients in each group and the ventilation mode was switched to Bilevel，VC+ and A/C mode correspondingly.The setting parameter was identical in three modes.In the process of weaning，patients in Bilevel group were ventilated with Bilevel and pressure support ventilation (PSV) mode at each pressure level，and subdivided into Bilevel and PSV 1 group accordingly.In VC+ group，the mode was switched to VS and PSV mode and subdivided into VC+ group and PSV 2 group,respectively.Every mode was run for 30 minutes while the ventilation function，blood gas exchange and lung mechanics index were measured.Results In the initial stage，the airway peak pressure (PIP) of Bilevel and VC+ mode obviously decreased，and the respiratory compliance was higher compared to the A/C mode. The effectiveness of Bilevel and A/C was equivalent in improving alveolar ventilation and oxygenation.The difference in the change of circulation function and blood gas between the two groups were not significant (Pgt;0.05).In the process of weaning，the effectiveness of Bilevel and VV+ was equal to PSV.The changes of breathing mode and blood gas between the two groups had no significant differences.Conclusions Bilevel and VV+ mode ventilation can be used in the whole mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure due to COPD with lower PIP，higher respiratory compliance compared to A/C model and similar performance as PSV during mechanical ventilation withdrawn.