Objective To investigate the effects of goal-oriented scheme for continuous mild sedation on patients with mechanical ventilation.Methods A total of 78 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation were enrolled via simple random number sampling method from January,2013 to December,2015,and divided into the experimental group(n=38)and the control group(n=40).The experimental group received goal-oriented scheme for continuous mild sedation designed by our department,and the control group received routine sedation protocol.Total sedative dosage,duration of mechanical ventilation,length of ICU stay,fatality rate in ICU,ventilator-associated pneumonia,pneumothorax,accidental extubation,tracheotomy were recorded.Results Duration of mechanical ventilation,length of ICU stay and total sedative dosage,incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia and rate of tracheotomy in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in accidental extubation,reintubation and barotrauma between two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion Goal-oriented scheme for continuous mild sedation can reduce total sedative dosage,length of ICU stay,duration of mechanical ventilation,rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia and tracheotomy.It is safer and more effective which can improve the prognosis of mechanically ventilated patients.