Chronic Illness Questions Related

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Regarding oxygen consumption by the adult human body:

  • A. It is approximately 3 ml Oâ‚‚ kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ at rest in the awake adult patient.
  • B. It rises to approximately 11 ml Oâ‚‚ kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ at peak exercise in healthy young adults.
  • C. Increases by approximately 5-fold after major surgery.
  • D. Peak oxygen consumption is likely to be quantified accurately by cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Oxygen consumption (VO₂) reflects metabolic demand. At rest, VO₂ is approximately 3-4 ml O₂ kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ in awake adults, aligning with basal energy needs (250-300 ml/min total). During peak exercise, healthy young adults can reach 30-40 ml O₂ kg⁻¹ min⁻¹, far exceeding 11 ml, depending on fitness. Post-major surgery, VO₂ increases 50-100% (1.5-2-fold), not 5-fold, due to stress and healing, though critical illness may spike higher briefly. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) accurately measures peak VO₂, unlike the Duke Activity Status Index, which estimates it via questionnaire. The resting value of 3 ml O₂ kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ is a physiological constant, foundational to understanding perioperative oxygen delivery and demand.