Which formula represents oxygen delivery (DO2)?

The formula that represents oxygen delivery (DO2) is accurately expressed as DO2 = CaO2 x CO x 10. In this context, CaO2 refers to the arterial content of oxygen, which accounts for both the oxygen bound to hemoglobin and the dissolved oxygen in plasma. CO represents cardiac output, which is the volume of blood the heart pumps in one minute.

The factor of 10 is included in the formula to convert the result to a more clinically relevant unit, liters of oxygen per minute. This conversion is necessary because CaO2 is typically measured in milliliters of oxygen per liter of blood, and cardiac output is measured in liters per minute. Thus, multiplying by 10 allows for the practical application of the formula in clinical settings, providing a direct representation of how much oxygen is being delivered to the tissues per minute.

The other formulas presented do not accurately represent the comprehensive method for calculating oxygen delivery. For example, while VO2 x 1.34 and SaO2 x hgb yield values related to oxygen content or utilization, they do not encompass the integral aspect of blood flow (CO) and the necessary conversion factor for clinical interpretation in this context.