Final answer:
The best I:E ratio for a patient with severe COPD is 2:1.
Step-by-step explanation:
In severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the best Inspiratory:Expiratory (I:E) ratio is a) 2:1. The I:E ratio represents the duration of time a person spends inhaling compared to exhaling. In severe COPD, patients typically have difficulty exhaling due to narrowed airways. A longer expiratory phase helps to prevent air trapping and allows for more complete emptying of the lungs, reducing the risk of trapped air and subsequent lung hyperinflation.