1. What is Cardiac Output?

Cardiac output (CO) is the volume of blood the heart pumps per minute. It's a crucial measure of cardiovascular function and is calculated as the product of heart rate and stroke volume.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the cardiac output equation:

Where:

• \( CO \) — Cardiac output (mL/min)
• \( HR \) — Heart rate (beats per minute)
• \( SV \) — Stroke volume (mL per beat)

Explanation: The equation multiplies how often the heart beats each minute by how much blood it pumps with each beat.

3. Importance of Cardiac Output

Details: Cardiac output is fundamental in assessing heart function, oxygen delivery to tissues, and hemodynamic status. It's used in critical care, cardiology, and exercise physiology.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter heart rate in beats per minute and stroke volume in milliliters per beat. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a normal cardiac output?
A: For a healthy adult at rest, normal CO is typically 4-8 L/min (4000-8000 mL/min).

Q2: How does exercise affect cardiac output?
A: During exercise, CO can increase 4-5 times resting values due to increased heart rate and stroke volume.

Q3: What factors influence stroke volume?
A: Preload, afterload, and myocardial contractility are the three primary determinants of stroke volume.

Q4: How is cardiac output measured clinically?
A: Methods include thermodilution (Swan-Ganz catheter), echocardiography, and non-invasive techniques like impedance cardiography.

Q5: What's the difference between cardiac output and cardiac index?
A: Cardiac index is CO adjusted for body surface area (CO/BSA), normalizing for patient size.