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Fick Principle Requirements — FRCA Primary MCQ

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ModeratePhysiology - CardiovascularFick Principle RequirementsFRCA Primary

The cardiac output equation derived from the Fick principle requires measurement of:

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Correct answer: E — Oxygen consumption and arterial and mixed venous oxygen content

Fick principle: CO = VO2 / (CaO2 - CvO2). Requirements: total body oxygen consumption (measured by expired gas analysis or assumed ~250 mL/min) / arterial O2 content (from arterial blood gas) / mixed venous O2 content (from pulmonary artery catheter). This is the gold standard for CO measurement.

Reference: Power Kam 2018 Principles of Physiology for the Anaesthetist