A simple gas exchange model predicting arterial oxygen content for various FiO2 levels

The application of mechanical ventilation is a life-saving routine therapy that allows the patient to overcome the physiological impact of surgeries, trauma or critical illness by ensuring vital oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal. Above a certain level of minute ventilation (usually set to ensure acceptable carbon dioxide removal and oxygenation) oxygenation is only marginally affected by a further increase in minute ventilation. Thus, oxygenation is predominantly influenced by inspiratory oxygen fraction (FiO2) Usually, finding the appropriate setting is a trial-and-error procedure, as the clinician is unaware of the exact value that needs to be set in order to reach the desired arterial oxygen partial pressures (PaO2) in the patient.