Due to the growing demand for sedation and anesthesia in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, the risk of respiratory-related adverse events is high due to the special environment, patient complexity, and the potential for respiratory depression. Effective respiratory function monitoring is essential to ensure the stability and safety of these procedures. This paper reviews traditional respiratory function monitoring methods during sedation and anesthesia, focusing on changes in gas composition, airway sounds, thoracic volume, and combined monitoring. Aiming to explore comprehensive, accurate, timely, and portable monitoring methods.