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Essential Respiratory Therapy Formulas

This document provides 23 respiratory therapy formulas and their normal values that were likely learned in RT school. Some of the key formulas include calculations for ideal body weight, static compliance, desired fractional inspired oxygen (FiO2) and minute ventilation (Ve) based on known values, alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (A-a gradient) and shunt percentage to determine the cause of hypoxia, and the P/F ratio to assess for acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Humidity for respiratory therapy should be set at 37 degrees Celsius and suction catheters sizes are based on patient age and size.

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2K views3 pages

Essential Respiratory Therapy Formulas

This document provides 23 respiratory therapy formulas and their normal values that were likely learned in RT school. Some of the key formulas include calculations for ideal body weight, static compliance, desired fractional inspired oxygen (FiO2) and minute ventilation (Ve) based on known values, alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (A-a gradient) and shunt percentage to determine the cause of hypoxia, and the P/F ratio to assess for acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Humidity for respiratory therapy should be set at 37 degrees Celsius and suction catheters sizes are based on patient age and size.

Uploaded by

rtman
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Respiratory Therapy Formulas

Respiratory Therapy Formulas

The following are some respiratory therapy formulas that you learned in RT school, have
probably since forgotten, but could still find useful from time to time:

Respiratory Therapy Formulas and normal values:

1. Ideal Body Weight (IBW):

• a. Female: 100 lb for 1st 5ft + 5lbs ea additional inch


• b. Male: 106 lb for 1st 5 ft + 6lbs ea additional inch

2. Static Compliance: (VT/Static pressure – PEEP)

• a. Normal = 60-100
• b. less than 60 = lungs becoming less compliant
• c. greater than 25 is acceptable
• d. less than 25 is unacceptable

3. Desired FiO2 = Desired PaO2 + Known FiO2 divided by known PaO2

4. Desired Ve= Known Ve*Known PaCO2 divided by desired PaCO2

5. Desired Vt = (Known PaCO2 x Known Vt)/Desired PaCO2

6. Desired f = (Known PaCO2 x Known f)/Desired PaCO2

7. RAW: PIP–Plateau/ Flow, or PIP–plateau

8. French size sx catheter = ETT size * 3/2

9. PAO2: (713 *Fio2 – PaCO2)/0.8or 0.1 if 100% O2

10. A-a gradient (ratio or A-ADO2): PAO2 – PaO2


• a. Normal on RA = 10-40 or on 100% = 25 – 70
• b. Increased 66-300 = acute lung injury
• c. greater than 300 = severe shunting, ARDS (unacceptable)

11. To determine cause of hypoxia, refer to the A-a gradient:

• a. If normal, hypoxia caused by hypoventilation,consider drug overdose,


neuromuscular disorder.
• b. If abnormal & SpO2 improves with increased FiO2. Consider PE,
pneumothorax, asthma,emphysema, pneumonia, bronchitis, heartfailure,
congenital heart disease, aging.
• c. If abnormal & refractory hypoxemia occurs, hypoxia caused by shunting
problem considerpneumonia, atelectasis, pulmonary edema or ARDS.

12. Shunt % = A-a gradient/20

• normal=20%
• if greater than 20 an increase in PEEP is indicated

13. a-A ratio: PaO2-PAO2

• a. Normal = 80% (74% elderly)


• b. 60% = V/Q imbalance
• c. 15% = shunting

14. P/F Ratio: PaO2/FiO2

• a. Normal = 300 – 500


• b. Acute lung injury = 200 – 300
• c. less than 200 = ARDS

15. Expected PaO2 = FiO2 x5

• a. Used to determine if pt oxygenating better


• b. Actual PaO2/ Expected PaO2 = % of patient expected PaO2
16. PS should be set to= RAW or greater if therapy indicated.

17. e-cylinder time remaining=0.30(PSI) / LPM

18. Oral intubation = 21-25cm @ lip.

19. Nasal intubation = 26-29cm

20. PEEP therapy = greater than6-8 CWP

21. Humidity should be set at 37 degrees Celcius.

22. Suction:Adult=100-120,Child=80-100,Infant=60-80

23. Pt.WOB=less than 0.8=normal, measures effectiveness of rise time and sensitivity.
Measured in spont. mode.

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