When the Fick method is used to calculate cardiac output, if C(a - v)O₂ is greater than expected and VO₂ is normal, cardiac output probably will be:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the arteriovenous oxygen difference (C(a - v)O2) is greater than expected and oxygen consumption (VO2) is normal, it suggests that the cardiac output is less than expected. This is because a larger difference indicates that more oxygen is being extracted by the tissues, which typically occurs when blood flow (cardiac output) is reduced.

When the Fick Method Is Used to Calculate Cardiac Output