Inverse ratio ventilation provides (more or less) time for inspiration compared to expiration?

Inverse ratio ventilation involves a respiratory pattern where the duration of inspiration is longer than that of expiration. This technique is typically used in patients with severe respiratory distress or conditions that benefit from increased lung inflation, such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

By providing more time for inspiration, inverse ratio ventilation allows for greater recruitment of collapsed or under-inflated alveoli. This can help improve oxygenation and ventilation by creating a longer period of positive pressure within the airways, thereby reducing the risk of atelectasis and facilitating gas exchange. The extended inspiratory time also allows for higher tidal volumes to be delivered, which can be crucial in managing patients with reduced lung compliance.

In contrast, conventional mechanical ventilation typically maintains a longer duration for expiration, which might not suffice for patients needing aggressive support. Thus, recognizing that inverse ratio ventilation increases inspiratory time is key to understanding its role in respiratory management.