Understanding Oxygen Delivery in Critical Care

Oxygen delivery is fundamentally determined by cardiac output and the oxygen content of the blood, which includes parameters like hemoglobin levels and saturation. In critical care settings, optimizing these components is essential, primarily through the use of medications or transfusions. Increasing stroke volume or heart rate can enhance cardiac output, while improving hemoglobin saturation is also vital for ensuring tissues receive adequate oxygen. This foundational understanding underlines much of the clinical work performed in the ICU to manage critically ill patients' oxygenation.