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PaO2/FiO2 ratio for ALI/ARDS?

< 300 *

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The
PaO2/FiO2 ratio less than
300 is used to identify
ALI/ARDS, reflecting severe gas exchange impairment in the lungs. This ratio is clinically significant for diagnosing and managing patients with respiratory distress.

Step-by-step explanation:

The
PaO2/FiO2 ratio is a crucial calculation used to assess lung function, particularly in patients with Acute Lung Injury (ALI) or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). In clinical settings, a
PaO2/FiO2 ratio of less than
300 is one of the criteria used to identify ALI/ARDS, indicating a severe impairment of gas exchange. As for the provided information regarding the calculation of the alveolar partial pressure of oxygen (
PaO2), it suggests that in the presence of an alveolar
CO2pressure (
PCO2) of
40 mm Hg and a respiratory quotient (RQ) of
0.8 which are typical values, the alveolar
PaO2 would be calculated using a specific formula involving these parameters.

The content loaded
PaO2/FiO2 ratio helps determine the extent of lung compromise in ALI/ARDS and guides clinicians in management and therapeutic decisions. This ratio is derived from the arterial oxygen tension (
PaO2) to the fraction of inspired oxygen (
FiO2), indicating the level of hypoxemia and the patient's respiratory efficiency.

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