Background: Pressure support(PS) is becomimg a widely accepted method of mechanical ventilation either for total unloading or for partial unloading of respiratory muscle. The aim of the study was to find out if PS exert different effects on respiratory mechanics in synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation(SIMV) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) modes. Methods: 5, 10 and 15 cm $H_2O$ of PS were sequentially applied in 14 patients($69{pm}12$ yrs, M:F=9:5) and respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume($V_T$), work of breathing(WOB), pressure time product(PTP), $P_{0.1}$, and $T_1/T_{TOT}$ were measured using the CP-100 pulmonary monitor(Bicore, USA) in SIMV and CPAP modes respectively. Results: 1) Common effects of PS on respiratory mechanics in both CPAP and SIMV modes As the level of PS was increased(0, 5, 10, 15 cm $H_2O$), $V_T$ was increased in CPAP mode($0.28{pm}0.09$, $0.29{pm}0.09$, $0.31{pm}0.11$, $0.34{pm}0.12;L$, respectively, p=0.001), and also in SIMV mode($0.31{pm}0.15$, $0.32{pm}0.09$, $0.34{pm}0.16$, $0.36{pm}0.15;L$, respectively, p=0.0215). WOB was decreased in CPAP mode($1.40{pm}1.02$, $1.01{pm}0.80$, $0.80{pm}0.85$, $0.68{pm}0.76$ joule/L, respectively, p=0.0001), and in SIMV mode($0.97{pm}0.77$, $0.76{pm}0.64$, $0.57{pm}0.55$, $0.49{pm}0.49$ joule/L, respectively, p=0.0001). PTP was also decreased in CPAP mode($300{pm}216$, $217{pm}165$, $179{pm}187$, $122{pm}114cm$ $H_2O{cdot}sec/min$, respectively, p=0.0001), and in SIMV mode($218{pm}181$, $178{pm}157$, $130{pm}147$, $108{pm}129cm$ $H_2O{cdot}sec/min$, respectively, p=0.0017). 2) Different effects of PS on respiratory mechanics in CP AP and SIMV modes By application of PS (0, 5, 10, 15 cm $H_2O$), RR was not changed in CPAP mode($27.9{pm}6.7$, $30.0{pm}6.6$, $26.1{pm}9.1$, $27.5{pm}5.7/min$, respectively, p=0.505), but it was decreased in SIMV mode ($27.4{pm}5.1$, $27.8{pm}6.5$, $27.6{pm}6.2$, $25.1{pm}5.4/min$, respectively, p=0.0001). $P_{0.1}$ was reduced in CPAP mode($6.2{pm}3.5$, $4.8{pm}2.8$, $4.8{pm}3.8$, $3.9{pm}2.5;cm$ $H_2O$, respectively, p=0.0061), but not in SIMV mode($4.3{pm}2.1$, $4.0{pm}1.8$, $3.5{pm}1.6$, $3.5{pm}1.9;cm$ $H_2O$, respectively, p=0.054). $T_1/T_{TOT}$ was decreased in CPAP mode($0.40{pm}0.05$, $0.39{pm}0.04$, $0.37{pm}0.04$, $0.35{pm}0.04$, respectively, p=0.0004), but not in SIMV mode($0.40{pm}0.08$, $0.35{pm}0.07$, $0.38{pm}0.10$, $0.37{pm}0.10$, respectively, p=0.287). 3) Comparison of respiratory mechanics between CPAP+PS and SIMV alone at same tidal volume. The tidal volume in CPAP+PS 10 cm $H_2O$ was comparable to that of SIMV alone. Under this condition, the RR($26.1{pm}9.1$, $27.4{pm}5.1/min$, respectively, p=0.516), WOB($0.80{pm}0.85$, 0.97+0.77 joule/L, respectively, p=0.485), $P_{0.1}$($3.9{pm}2.5$, $4.3{pm}2.1;cm$ $H_2O$, respectively, p=0.481) were not different between the two methods, but PTP($179{pm}187$, $218{pm}181 cmH_2O{cdot}sec/min$, respectively, p=0.042) and $T_1/T_{TOT}$($0.37{pm}0.04$, $0.40{pm}0.08$, respectively, p=0.026) were significantly lower in CPAP+PS than in SIMV alone. Conclusion: PS up to 15 cm ..