THE FOUR MOST IMPORTANT EQUATIONS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

Lawrence Martin, M.D., FACP, FCCP
Associate Professor of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Cleveland, Ohio

TABLE OF CONTENTS - click on heading below for fulltext

• ABBREVIATIONS
  
  
• SUMMARY and INTRODUCTION (Includes Table 1)
  
  
• 1. PCO₂ EQUATION
  
  
• 2. HENDERSON-HASSELBALCH EQUATION (Includes Table II, Table III and
  Table IV)
  
  
• 3. ALVEOLAR GAS EQUATION(Includes Table V)
  
  
• 4. OXYGEN CONTENT EQUATION
  
  
• FIGURES 1, 2, and 3.
  
  
• REFERENCES
  
  
• TRUE-FALSE QUIZ
  
  
  
  

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  ABBREVIATIONS
  
  

  CaO₂

  - arterial oxygen content

  CO

  - carbon monoxide

  COHb

  - carboxyhemoglobin

  DKA

  - diabetic ketoacidosis

  FIO₂

  - fraction of inspired oxygen

  Hb

  - hemoglobin

  HCO₃^-

  - bicarbonate

  H-H

  - Henderson-Hasselbalch

  ICU

  - Intensive care unit

  metHb

  - methemoglobin

  PaCO₂

  - arterial PCO₂ in mm Hg

  PACO₂

  - alveolar PCO₂ in mm Hg

  PaO₂

  - arterial PO₂ in mm Hg

  PAO₂

  - alveolar PO₂ in mm Hg

  PB

  - barometric pressure in mm Hg

  R

  - respiratory quotient

  SaO₂

  - % saturation of hemoglobin with O₂

  VA

  - alveolar ventilation in L/min

  VCO₂

  - CO₂ production in ml/min

  VD

  - dead space ventilation

  VE

  - minute or total ventilation

  V-Q

  - ventilation-perfusion

  
  

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  Copyright © 1996-2000 Lawrence Martin, M.D.

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