In recent years, in order to reduce the contamination of microorganism in the circuit and reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in patients, such as ventilator associated pneumonia and control nosocomial infection, the clinical value of breathing filter is of more significance. With the presence of COVID‑19, breathing filters are applied more widely; it is urgent to rationally use. This article summarizes the development of its clinical application, analyzes a variety of potential complications since it was put into clinical use, and summarizes the latest techniques of breathing filters, so as to provide advice and guidance for the clinical rational use of breathing filter.