Purpose. In this Study we summarized surgical experience with 68 cases of the medulla oblongata space-occupying lesions to define the postoperative respiratory problems of these lesions. Methods 68 patients (35 males and 33 females, mean age 38.7 years) with medulla oblongata lesions were treated at our institute between 1996 and 1998. The surgical procedures were performed under general anesthesia remaining spontaneous respiration. The correlation between respiration disorder and the lesion location, the nature of lesions were evaluated. Results. For benign medulla oblongata space-occupying lesions, 23.3% cases presented a slight central hypoventilation in early stage postoperatively and had a good prognosis. For confined malignant lesions, 31.7% cases were performed tracheotomy in early stage, because of postoperative caudal cranial nerves deficits and severe central hypoventilation and no permanent respiratory problem developed. 1 patient with medulla oblongata astrocytoma located in the vicinity of the medulla oblongata obex developed severe ataxia dyspnea postoperatively Conclusions. For benign or confined malignant medulla space-occupying lesions, temporary central hypoventilation may develop postoperatively. For diffused astrocytoma located in the vicinity of the medulla oblongata obex, severe ataxia respiration may occur postoperatively and the patient presented with a bad prognosis.