The following data were obtained from a man weighing 70 kgAoa oxygen (O2) content = 20.0 vol%Femoral vein O2 content = 16 vol%Coronary sinus O2 content = 10 vol%Pulmonary aery O2 content = 15 vol%Total body O2 consumption = 400 ml/minWhat is the cardiac output of this man?

The Fick equation is a useful method for measuring cardiac output or flows through any organ when the oxygen (O2) consumption and the difference between aerial and venous O2 content (vol% = ml/100ml) is known.Flow = O2 consumption / aerial (O2 content - venous O2 content)Cardiac output = O2 consumption / (aoa O2 - pulmonary aery O2)= 400 / (20 - 15)= 8 L/min