Measured and Counted Oxygen Metabolism Parameters
o paO2, Hb saturation, haemoglobin fractions, lactate, (pH, paCO2, FiO2, etc.)
o Pulmonary shunts, oxygen consumption, a-v difference Anticoagulated (heparinized) arterial blood or arterialized capillary blood from the hyperaemized adult's earlobe or newborn's heel is most suitable to determine oxygen metabolism parameters.Neither is it suitable in the case of disturbances of peripheral circulation: the measured result will correspond to the value in the poorly perfused periphery, and not to arterial blood.Modern calorimeters work on the same principle to determine energy output/ener- gy requirement using indirect calorimetry; 1.0 litre of consumed oxygen is equivalent to energy of 4.8 kcal (20.2 kJ).Pulse oximeters are used to monitor haemoglobin oxygen saturation.