Formulas, Formulas Everywhere!

Air:Oxygen Entrainment Ratio

100-x x=FiO2
x-20* *use 21, if FiO2 <35%

What is the air:oxygen entrainment ratio, if the patient is on 60%?

Total Flow Determination

(Total parts of Air and Oxygen) x Flowmeter setting = Flow to Patient

 Calculate the total flow to the patient if the patient is on a 40% cool aerosol with
the flowmeter set at 10 lpm.

 The patient is on a 60% aerosol trach mask. The patient requires at least 28 lpm
total flow. What is the minimum flowmeter setting to be used?

Oxygen Cylinder Duration

Tank Factor x Pressure in tank = Minutes of Duration = Hours

Liter Flow 60

 How many e cylinders must be taken on a 6 hour transport if the patient is being
manually bagged at 15 lpm?

 How long will the H-cylinder last running at a rate of 8 lpm if there is 1000 psi in
the tank?

Liquid Oxygen Duration

Weight in pounds x 860 = liters = minutes = hours

2.5 flow 60

 How long will your portable liquid unit weighing 5 pounds running at 3 L/min
last?
Minute Volume

Tidal Volume x Respiratory Rate = Minute Volume

 Your patient has a tidal volume of 450 ml and a respiratory rate of 18. What is
their minute volume?

Estimate Total Inspiratory Flow needs

Minute Volume (in liters) x 3

 What is the patient’s inspiratory flow demand if they have a minute volume of 12
l/min?

 If the patient has a tidal volume of 600ml and a respiratory rate of 20, what is
their total inspiratory flow demand?

 If the patient’s tidal volume is 600 cc and the rate is 12, what is his expected
inspiratory flow rate?
If this patient is on a 40% venti-mask set at 8 l/min, will it meet his need? Why or
why not?

Nasal Cannula approximate percentage

(x times 4) + 20 = approximate NC %

 The patient is on a 4 lpm nasal cannula, what is the approximate percentage?

 If your patient is on a 40% VM, what nasal cannula setting will be approximately
the same percentage?
Heliox Therapy

Conversion factors:
80/20 mixture: use 1.8
70/30 mixture: use 1.6

Determine Actual flow from the flowmeter

Factor x flowmeter setting= Actual Flow

 If your patient is receiving a 70/30 heliox mixture and the flowmeter is set
at 10lpm, what is the actual flow to the patient?

Determine flowmeter setting for a desired flowrate

Desired flow to patient = flowmeter setting

Factor

 You want to deliver 8L/min of an 80/20 heliox mixture to your patient,

what should you set the flowmeter on?