How to Use This Calculator
- Enter your heart rate in beats per minute (bpm). A typical resting heart rate for adults is 60-100 bpm.
- Enter your stroke volume in milliliters per beat (mL/beat). This value can be obtained from echocardiogram measurements.
- Optionally, enter the Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) if available. LVEF represents the percentage of blood ejected from the left ventricle with each heartbeat.
- Click the "Calculate" button to compute your cardiac output.
- The calculator will display two results if LVEF is provided: one based on the standard formula (HR × SV) and one based on the LVEF formula.
Understanding Cardiac Output
Cardiac Output (CO) is the volume of blood being pumped by the heart per minute. It's a critical measure of heart function and can be calculated using the formula:
CO = Heart Rate × Stroke Volume
Alternatively, if the LVEF is known:
CO = 1.334 × LVEF (%) × Stroke Volume
Normal Ranges
- Normal Cardiac Output for adults: 4.0-8.0 L/min
- Normal Heart Rate: 60-100 bpm
- Normal Stroke Volume: 60-120 mL/beat
- Normal LVEF: 50-70%
Practical Applications
This calculator is particularly useful for:
- Assessing heart function in patients with heart disease
- Monitoring patients during surgery or critical care
- Evaluating the effectiveness of heart medications
- Comparing different measurement techniques
Limitations
Keep in mind that this calculator provides estimates based on standard formulas. Clinical interpretation should always be made by qualified healthcare professionals considering the full clinical context.