Cardiac Output (Fick) Calculator
Calculate cardiac output using the Fick principle from oxygen consumption and arteriovenous oxygen difference.
Medical Disclaimer
This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your health. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of results from this tool.
Inputs
Results
Cardiac Output
5.56 L/min
Cardiac Index
2.93 L/min/m²
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter oxygen consumption (VO₂ in mL/min), hemoglobin (g/dL), and arterial O₂ saturation (SaO₂ %).
- Set mixed venous O₂ saturation (SvO₂ %), arterial PaO₂, mixed venous PvO₂, and body surface area (m²).
- Review Cardiac Output (L/min), Cardiac Index (L/min/m²), CaO₂, CvO₂, and A-V O₂ Difference.
- Normal resting CO is 4–8 L/min; CI < 2.2 L/min/m² suggests cardiogenic shock.
How the result changes with Arterial O2 saturation (SaO2)
| Arterial O2 saturation (SaO2) | Cardiac Output | Cardiac Index |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | 0 L/min | 0 L/min/m² |
| 68 | 0 L/min | 0 L/min/m² |
| 83 | 14.87 L/min | 7.83 L/min/m² |
| 95 | 6.36 L/min | 3.35 L/min/m² |
What each input means
- VO2 (O2 consumption)
- Oxygen consumption, typically 200-300 mL/min at rest.
- Hemoglobin
- Blood hemoglobin concentration.
- Arterial O2 saturation (SaO2)
- Arterial oxygen saturation from ABG or pulse oximetry.
- Mixed venous O2 saturation (SvO2)
- Mixed venous saturation from PA catheter. Normal 60-80%.
- Arterial PaO2
- Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood.
- Mixed venous PvO2
- Partial pressure of oxygen in mixed venous blood.
- Body surface area
- Body surface area for cardiac index calculation.
What each result means
- Cardiac Output
- CO by Fick principle. Normal 4-8 L/min.
- Cardiac Index
- CO normalized to BSA. Normal 2.5-4.0 L/min/m².
- Arterial O2 Content (CaO2)
- Oxygen content of arterial blood. Normal 16-22 mL/dL.
- Venous O2 Content (CvO2)
- Oxygen content of mixed venous blood. Normal 12-17 mL/dL.
- A-V O2 Difference
- Arteriovenous oxygen difference. Normal 3.5-5.5 mL/dL.
- O2 Delivery (DO2)
- Systemic oxygen delivery. Normal 800-1200 mL/min.
- O2 Extraction Ratio
- Fraction of delivered O2 consumed. Normal 22-32%.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersVO2 (O2 consumption) = 250, Hemoglobin = 14, Arterial O2 saturation (SaO2) = 98, Mixed venous O2 saturation (SvO2) = 75 = 7 input(s) provided
- Calculate Cardiac Output5.56 = 5.56
- Calculate Cardiac Index2.93 = 2.93
- Calculate Arterial O2 ContentArterial O2 Content = hemoglobin * 1.34 * (saO2 / 100) + 0.003 * paO218.68 = 18.68
- Calculate Venous O2 ContentVenous O2 Content = hemoglobin * 1.34 * (svO2 / 100) + 0.003 * pvO214.19 = 14.19
Engine last updated .
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