A mechanical ventilation system, comprising: a mechanical ventilator configured to deliver ventilation to a patient; and an electronic controller programmed to control the mechanical ventilator to perform a lung volume recruitment LVR therapy method, the LVR therapy method comprising at least one LVR cycle including: an inspiration phase in which air is delivered to an upper airway of the patient by the mechanical ventilator to ramp an airway pressure up to an LVR pressure of the LVR cycle, a hold phase (B,C) in which the airway pressure is maintained by the mechanical ventilator at the LVR pressure or at a pressure above the LVR pressure for a hold time interval, and an expiration phase in which the airway pressure decreases to a positive end-expiratory pressure PEEP of the LVR cycle, characterized in that the electronic controller is programmed to control the mechanical ventilator to perform a mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) therapy method; wherein the electronic controller is programmed either to perform a sequence including performing the LVR therapy method and then performing the MI E therapy method in response to completion of the LVR therapy method or to perform a sequence including performing the MI-E therapy method and then performing the LVR therapy method in response to completion of the MI-E therapy method. a mechanical ventilator configured to deliver ventilation to a patient; and an electronic controller programmed to control the mechanical ventilator to perform a lung volume recruitment LVR therapy method, the LVR therapy method comprising at least one LVR cycle including: an inspiration phase in which air is delivered to an upper airway of the patient by the mechanical ventilator to ramp an airway pressure up to an LVR pressure of the LVR cycle, a hold phase (B,C) in which the airway pressure is maintained by the mechanical ventilator at the LVR pressure or at a pressure above the LVR pressure for a hold time interval, and an expiration phase in which the airway pressure decreases to a positive end-expiratory pressure PEEP of the LVR cycle, an inspiration phase in which air is delivered to an upper airway of the patient by the mechanical ventilator to ramp an airway pressure up to an LVR pressure of the LVR cycle, a hold phase (B,C) in which the airway pressure is maintained by the mechanical ventilator at the LVR pressure or at a pressure above the LVR pressure for a hold time interval, and an expiration phase in which the airway pressure decreases to a positive end-expiratory pressure PEEP of the LVR cycle, characterized in that the electronic controller is programmed to control the mechanical ventilator to perform a mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) therapy method; wherein the electronic controller is programmed either to perform a sequence including performing the LVR therapy method and then performing the MI E therapy method in response to completion of the LVR therapy method or to perform a sequence including performing the MI-E therapy method and then performing the LVR therapy method in response to completion of the MI-E therapy method. either to perform a sequence including performing the LVR therapy method and then performing the MI E therapy method in response to completion of the LVR therapy method or to perform a sequence including performing the MI-E therapy method and then performing the LVR therapy method in response to completion of the MI-E therapy method.