Inverse ratio ventilation is most commonly used with which ventilation mode?

Inverse ratio ventilation is commonly employed in pressure control ventilation because this mode allows the clinician to set specific pressure levels during inspiration, making it easier to manipulate the duration of inspiration relative to expiration. By extending the inspiratory phase, inverse ratio ventilation can improve oxygenation by increasing the mean airway pressure and enhancing recruitment of collapsed alveoli, which is beneficial in conditions like acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

In pressure control ventilation, the clinician has more direct control over inspiratory pressures and can thus effectively implement the inverse ratio strategy, adjusting inspiratory and expiratory times to optimize gas exchange. This approach helps in managing the patient's respiratory needs more effectively when dealing with underlying lung mechanics that may require such adjustments. The other ventilation modes do not inherently lend themselves to this strategy as seamlessly as pressure control ventilation does.