A mechanical ventilator system configured to deliver a pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of a subject, the mechanical ventilator system comprising: a pressure generator configured to generate the pressurized flow of breathable gas; one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to one or more gas parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas; a user interface configured to receive entry and/or selection of control inputs that select a target tidal volume; and one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising: a control module configured to control operation of the pressure generator to generate the pressurized flow of breathable gas according to a volume control mode therapy regime that delivers the target tidal volume; a gas parameter module configured to determine one or more gas parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas based on the output signals, wherein the one or more gas parameters are determined multiple times per inhalation of the subject; an airway parameter module configured to determine one or more airway parameters of the airway of the subject, wherein the one or more airway parameters are determined multiple times per inhalation of the subject; and an inspiratory pressure module configured to dynamically determine an inspiratory pressure level of the pressurized flow of breathable gas of the volume control mode therapy regime during an inhalation to achieve the target tidal volume, the determination based on the determined one or more airway parameters and the determined one or more gas parameters such that the inspiratory pressure level during the inhalation is not reduced to impede respiratory effort by the subject responsive to the target tidal volume being exceeded during the inhalation. a pressure generator configured to generate the pressurized flow of breathable gas; one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to one or more gas parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas; a user interface configured to receive entry and/or selection of control inputs that select a target tidal volume; and one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising: a control module configured to control operation of the pressure generator to generate the pressurized flow of breathable gas according to a volume control mode therapy regime that delivers the target tidal volume; a gas parameter module configured to determine one or more gas parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas based on the output signals, wherein the one or more gas parameters are determined multiple times per inhalation of the subject; an airway parameter module configured to determine one or more airway parameters of the airway of the subject, wherein the one or more airway parameters are determined multiple times per inhalation of the subject; and an inspiratory pressure module configured to dynamically determine an inspiratory pressure level of the pressurized flow of breathable gas of the volume control mode therapy regime during an inhalation to achieve the target tidal volume, the determination based on the determined one or more airway parameters and the determined one or more gas parameters such that the inspiratory pressure level during the inhalation is not reduced to impede respiratory effort by the subject responsive to the target tidal volume being exceeded during the inhalation. a gas parameter module configured to determine one or more gas parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas based on the output signals, wherein the one or more gas parameters are determined multiple times per inhalation of the subject; an airway parameter module configured to determine one or more airway parameters of the airway of the subject, wherein the one or more airway parameters are determined multiple times per inhalation of the subject; and an inspiratory pressure module configured to dynamically determine an inspiratory pressure level of the pressurized flow of breathable gas of the volume control mode therapy regime during an inhalation to achieve the target tidal volume, the determination based on the determined one or more airway parameters and the determined one or more gas parameters such that the inspiratory pressure level during the inhalation is not reduced to impede respiratory effort by the subject responsive to the target tidal volume being exceeded during the inhalation.