Cardiology
Cardiac Output (Fick Principle)
Calculates cardiac output from oxygen consumption and arteriovenous O2 difference.
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Parameters
Cardiac Output (Fick Principle) Result
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Formula
Cardiac Output (L/min) = VO₂ (mL/min) / [(SaO₂ - SvO₂) × Hb × 1.34 × 10]Clinical Pearls
The benchmark reference measurement of cardiac output during right heart catheterization and in critically ill patients with pulmonary artery catheters.
Limitations
When VO2 is estimated (assumed) rather than directly measured by indirect calorimetry, substantial errors of 10-25% can occur.