Final answer:
Mixed Venous Oxygen Saturation (MvO₂) is the percentage of oxygen-saturated hemoglobin in the blood returning to the heart from the body's tissues. Normal value ranges from 60-80%. Reduced MvO₂ can occur due to low cardiac output, low oxygen delivery, or increased oxygen consumption.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mixed Venous Oxygen Saturation (MvO₂) is the percentage of oxygen-saturated hemoglobin in the blood returning to the heart from the body's tissues. It provides important information about the balance between oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption in the body.
A normal MvO₂ value ranges from 60-80%. A value higher than 80% may indicate increased oxygen extraction by the tissues, while a value lower than 60% may suggest decreased oxygen extraction or oxygen delivery to the tissues.
Causes of reduced MvO₂ include low cardiac output, low oxygen delivery, and increased oxygen consumption. Causes of increased MvO₂ include sepsis, hypermetabolic states, and certain congenital heart diseases.