Flow rate refers to what in oxygen delivery?

Flow rate refers to what in oxygen delivery?

• A. Oxygen concentration in the delivered gas
• B. Oxygen saturation level
• C. Humidity of the delivered gas
• D. Amount of O2 delivered to patient

Answer: (D)

Flow rate describes how much oxygen is delivered to the patient per minute. It’s the volume of gas moving to the patient each minute, usually measured in liters per minute. This parameter tells you about the amount of O2 being supplied, not its concentration, which is the FiO2, or the gas’s humidity, or the patient’s blood oxygen saturation. The FiO2 depends on the delivery device and how room air may mix in, while humidity describes whether the gas is moist. Oxygen saturation is a blood measurement of how much O2 hemoglobin is carrying, not a setting of the delivery system.

Flow rate describes how much oxygen is delivered to the patient per minute. It’s the volume of gas moving to the patient each minute, usually measured in liters per minute. This parameter tells you about the amount of O2 being supplied, not its concentration, which is the FiO2, or the gas’s humidity, or the patient’s blood oxygen saturation. The FiO2 depends on the delivery device and how room air may mix in, while humidity describes whether the gas is moist. Oxygen saturation is a blood measurement of how much O2 hemoglobin is carrying, not a setting of the delivery system.