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.