Mechanical ventilation may result in postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) and subsequently affect patient outcomes. An optimized mechanical ventilation strategy is effective in preventing the incidence of PPC. Pressure-controlled volume-guaranteed (PCV-VG), also known as pressure-adjusted volume-controlled ventilation, is an emerging mode of ventilation, and a large body of literature now suggests that it is superior to both pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) and volume-controlled ventilation (VCV), which have been commonly used in previous surgical procedures, in a number of ways.. This review delineates the working principle, methods of application, and advantages of PCV‑VG. Additionally, it summarizes the research advances of PCV‑VG in general anesthesia to provide a reference for selecting the optimal ventilation mode during operations to reduce the incidence of PPC.