Hypoxemia is a common postoperative complication in surgical patients and can be life‑threatening in severe cases. Oxygen therapy is the most commonly used and effective method to treat hypoxemic patients. With respect to the unsatisfied effects of routine oxygen therapy (COT) on preventing hypoxemia, more effective non‑invasive respiratory support is recommended to prevent and treat perioperative hypoxia. However, related guidelines require to be improved. Recently, the European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA) and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) jointly issued “Noninvasive Respiratory Support in the Hypoxaemic Peri‑operative/Periprocedural Patient: A Joint ESA/ESICM Guideline”. The guideline covers five types of clinical questions and compares the effectiveness of COT, high flow nasal cannula (HFNC), noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), with a total of 19 recommendations. This guideline provides important evidence for correct selection of noninvasive respiratory support in clinical setting, which is essential for effective treatment of perioperative hypoxemia. Clinicians should also identify high‑risk patients for perioperative hypoxemia in early stages and actively perform lung protective ventilation strategies during surgery, so as reduce the risk of pulmonary complications to prevent perioperative hypoxemia.