What is the cardiac index for a 13-year-old patient with a cardiac output of 6.0 L/min and a body surface area of 1.5 m2?

To determine the cardiac index, one must use the formula:

Cardiac Index (CI) = Cardiac Output (CO) ÷ Body Surface Area (BSA).

In this case, the cardiac output for the patient is 6.0 L/min, and the body surface area is 1.5 m².

By substituting these values into the formula, we calculate:

CI = 6.0 L/min ÷ 1.5 m² = 4.0 L/min/m².

Thus, the cardiac index for this 13-year-old patient is accurately assessed as 4 L/min/m². The cardiac index is an important measurement, as it provides a more individualized assessment of cardiac performance relative to body size, which is particularly helpful in pediatric populations.

Understanding the significance of this calculation underscores its importance in clinical practice. A normal cardiac index for children typically ranges from 2.5 to 5 L/min/m², and this specific patient’s value of 4 L/min/m² indicates adequate cardiac function for their size.