Mathematical model of oxygen transport: a teaching aid for normal physiology adaptable to extracorporeal oxygenation circuits.
The ultimate aim of most intensive care therapies is to improve tissue oxygen delivery; consequently, a detailed knowledge of this area of physiology is important to a wide range of Critical Care Staff. We describe a simple mathematical model of oxygen transport that was initially written as a training aid for extracorporeal oxygenation training. The model has subsequently proved useful for explaining the determinants of oxygen transport to a broader audience. It is based on simple linear equations and is easily displayed with a standard computer spreadsheet. Apart from its teaching value, the model can also generate a graph of oxygen saturation vs. inspired oxygen fraction for different degrees of pulmonary shunt. This provides a noninvasive method for determining the magnitude of pulmonary venous admixture and may also prove to have some clinical value.
Seear
M
M
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Children's Health: South Pacific, Auckland, New Zealand.
Anderson
B
B
Hall
R
R
Hui
H
H
D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000502:physiology; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010827:Physiology / Q000193:education*; D013664:Teaching Materials
D010100:Oxygen