A 40-year-old woman is hospitalized with severe anemia. This patient has a cardiac output of 12.5 L/min, oxygen consumption is 250 mL/min, and pulmonary artery oxygen concentration of 160 ml/L. What is the pulmonary vein oxygen concentration (in ml/L)?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The pulmonary vein oxygen concentration can be calculated using the Fick principle, which states that the oxygen consumption (VO2) is equal to the product of cardiac output (CO) and the difference in oxygen content between arterial and venous blood. Rearranging the formula to solve for the pulmonary vein oxygen concentration (CvO2), we get CvO2 = VO2 / CO + CcO2, where CcO2 is the pulmonary artery oxygen concentration. Substituting the given values: CvO2 = 250 mL/min / 12.5 L/min + 160 mL/L = 20 mL/L + 160 mL/L = 180 mL/L.

A 40-Year-Old Woman Is Hospitalized with Severe Anemia