partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2)

Introduction

Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2).

Reference interval

• 83-108 mm Hg
• PaO2 tends to decline with age:
• For age-related decline, estimate using the equation:

  100 - age/3   (i.e. for age 90, PaO2 = 70 mm Hg)#

# grossly over simplified, but may have some use

Notes

• a PaO2 of 70 mm Hg is generally satisfactory for air travel* or travel to 8000 feet in elevation.

* Airline cabins are pressurized to an atmosphere equivalent to about 8000 feet in elevation

More general terms

• partial pressure of oxygen in blood

Additional terms

• alveolar oxygen pressure (pAO2)

Component of

• partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood/fractional inspired oxygen; PaO2/FiO2
• arterial blood gas (ABG)