•Laboratory and mathematical model
•Maximize delivery of oxygen
•O2 delivery is proportional to hematocrit and
blood flow rate.
•As hematocrit increases
viscosity increases and flow rate decrease
•Optimal hematocrit is approximately
35%
•Crowell JW and Smith
EE. J Appl Physiol 1967;22:501-504
•Clinical
•Risks associated with
increasing the hemoglobin/hematocrit justify the clinical benefits