Diniz-Silva F, et al. - Given protective mechanical ventilation is advised for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but it usually needs controlled ventilation and sedation, and additional benefits could be achieved by using neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) or pressure support ventilation (PSV), researchers evaluated whether keeping tidal volume (V_T) at protective levels with NAVA and PSV in patients with ARDS would be feasible. A prospective randomized crossover trial was carried out in 5 ICUs from a university hospital in Brazil. Participants were ARDS patients transitioning from controlled ventilation to partial ventilatory support. According to the findings, keeping V_T in protective levels with NAVA and PSV was feasible for 75% of the patients. NAVA vs PSV afforded similar V_T, respiratory rate and peak airway pressure. Findings are indicative of the feasibility of a protective ventilation strategy involving partial ventilatory assistance with NAVA and PSV in selected ARDS patients under continuous sedation.