Tricks of the trade : the P/F ratio

 

Normal P/F ratio=600.

As a generalization :

everybody breathing room air (21%) will have an PaO2=100.  P/F ratio=100/0.2 = 500.

everybody breathing 100% oxygen via NRB will have an PaO2=500.  P/F ratio=500/1=500.

so now, you can figure out the max PaO2 on any FiO2.

FiO2                           P/F ratio                        PaO2

100%                          600                                 600

90%                              540                                600

80%                              480                                600

70%                             420                                600

60%                              360                               600

50%                             300                                600

40%                             240                                600

30%                            180                                 600

21%                            120                                 600