Inverse ratio ventilation

Inverse ratio ventilation (IRV) is not necessarily a mode of mechanical ventilation though it may be referred to as such. IRV is a strategy (method or style) of ventilating the lungs in such a way that the amount of time the lungs are in inhalation is greater than the amount of time they are in exhalation, allowing for a constant inflation of the lungs, ensuring they remain "recruited" (meaning they participate in gas exchange and are not allowed to deflate to get stuck together or tighten up). The primary goal for IRV is improved oxygenation by forcing inspiratory time to be greater than expiratory time (example: inhale is 3 seconds and exhalation is 1 second, a 3:1 I:E ratio) increasing the mean airway pressure and potentially improving oxygenation. Normal I:E ratio is 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, so forcing the I:E to be 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, (or even as high as 20:1) is the source of the term for the strategy.