Cardiac Index CO/BSA — FRCA Primary MCQ
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Correct answer: B — CO / Body surface area
Cardiac index (CI) = CO / BSA (L/min/m²). Normal CI is approximately 2.5-4.0 L/min/m². It normalises CO for body size allowing comparison between patients. BSA is calculated from height and weight (DuBois formula). CI <2.2 L/min/m² indicates cardiogenic shock. BSA of a typical 70 kg / 170 cm adult ≈ 1.7-1.9 m².
Reference: Power Kam 2018 Principles of Physiology for the Anaesthetist