In the volume-cycled ventilator, the actual tidal volume delivered to the patient is influenced by the compression volume and elasticity of the circuit. The purpose of the present study is to compare the set tidal volume with the measured tidal volume, and calculate the compression factor of the ventilator. We studied twenty pediatric patients weighting above 10 kg. The set tidal volume ( V(r)), the exhaled volume displayed in the ventilator ( V(exh)) and the actual tidal volume measured by the Wright spirometer ( V(sp)) were compared. The results were as follows: 1) Mean tidal volume was 248±92 ml, mean exhaled volume was 233±102 ml and mean spirometer volume was 19±97 ml. Thus the set and the measured tidal volume were different significantly (p<0.05). but we may calculate the actual tidal volume by the relationship with the set tidal volume ( Vsp-1.03V(T) - 56 ) 2) Mean compression factor was 1.35±0.92 ml/cmH2O.