The average venoarterial CO2 gradient correlated to survival for each of 294 ECMO patients with a variety of diagnoses while on ECMO.
This figure illustrates the average p[v-a]CO2 value correlated to survival for each of 294 patients while on ECMO. The maximum survival rate of about 90% occurs when the gradient is about 7 mmHg. As the gradient increases survival decreases. Patients with an average gradient value of 15 mmHg or greater have 90% mortality. The slope of this drop from 7 to 15 mmHg is approximately -12%, indicating that an increase of 1 mmHg in the venoarterial carbon dioxide gradient results in a decrease of survival by about 12%. Like the AGc curve, the line of best fit is parabolic with the maximum survival occurring at 7 mmHg and survival falling off on either side.
Perfusion Theory is an educational platform for the Oxygen Pressure Field Theory (OPFT). August Krogh’s theoretical concept of the oxygen pressure field is explained and then applied to clinical applications in perfusion practice.