Alveolar Gas Equation

 This equation computes the alveolar partial pressure of oxygen from data that is practically measurable. The Alveolar Gas Equation uses assumptions to calculate the partial pressure of oxygen in the pulmonary alveolus because it is not practical to take a sample of gas from the alveoli to directly measure the partial pressure of oxygen.

CONTENTS

APPLICATIONS 

INPUTS 

EXAMPLES 

HISTORY

NOTES 

REFERENCE 

LICENSE 

APPLICATIONS

This equation is used in a clinical environment to calculate the partial pressure of oxygen in the pulmonary alveoli in a patient.

INPUTS

The following describes the inputs to this equation:

• `F_IO_2` = Oxygen in Expired Air
• `BP` = Barometric Pressure
• `WVP` = Water Vapor Pressure
• `P_aCO_2` = Arterial Partial Pressure
• `R` = Respiratory Quotient

EXAMPLES

To perform the following task/analysis/calculation ...

HISTORY

This equation was first described in 1946 in a paper written by Fehn, Rahn, and Otis.

NOTES

This equation is an approximation that is used when F_IO₂ is small ( F_IO₂ [1 - RQ] < 1)

The more definitive equation can be used here:

https://www.vcalc.com/app/equations/e6d2a3d4-da27-11e2-8e97-bc764e04d25f

REFERENCE

[1] Alveolar Gas Equation

Source: Wikipedia

URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alveolar_gas_equation

Public License: < CC Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 International >

LICENSE

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