Using the Fick principle for cardiac output, CO = dfrac VO_2 (CaO_2 - CvO_2) , a patient has an oxygen consumption of 250 mL/min, an arterial oxygen content of 20 mL/dL, and a mixed venous oxygen content of 15 mL/dL. What is the calculated cardiac output?

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MBBS QUESTION #10237

Question 1

Using the Fick principle for cardiac output, $CO = \dfrac{VO_2}{(CaO_2 - CvO_2)}$, a patient has an oxygen consumption of 250 mL/min, an arterial oxygen content of 20 mL/dL, and a mixed venous oxygen content of 15 mL/dL. What is the calculated cardiac output?

2.5 L/min
5 L/min✔️
10 L/min
50 L/min

Correct Answer Explanation

The arteriovenous oxygen difference is $20 - 15 = 5\ \text{mL/dL} = 0.05\ \text{mL/mL}$. $CO = \dfrac{250\ \text{mL/min}}{0.05} = 5000\ \text{mL/min} = 5\ \text{L/min}$ — a normal resting cardiac output, illustrating how the Fick method is used clinically (e.g., during cardiac catheterization) to measure CO.

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