Cardiac output, wedge pressure, and oxygen delivery

The optimization of oxygen delivery is the primary goal of critical care medicine. While the physiology underlying the delivery of oxygen is complex, the means by which the practitioner can modify it are limited and can be divided into a relatively few classes. This article will review the physiology of oxygen delivery, the means by which its determinants may be measured, and the treatment options available to manipulate oxygen delivery in the clinical setting. Newer technologies for the measurement of parameters relating to oxygen delivery and consumption will be addressed as well.