Oxygenation index

The oxygenation index is a calculation used in intensive care medicine to measure the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) and its usage within the body.

A lower oxygenation index is better - this can be inferred by the equation itself. As the oxygenation of a person improves, they will be able to achieve a higher PaO2 at a lower FiO2. This would be reflected on the formula as a decrease in the numerator or an increase in the denominator - thus lowering the OI. Typically an OI threshold is set for when a neonate should be placed on ECMO, for example >40.

Equation

$OI={\frac {Fi{\ce {O2}}\times M_{\text{PAW}}}{Pa{\ce {O2}}}}$

• $Fi{\ce {O2}}$: Fraction of inspired oxygen, in percent;
• $M_{\text{PAW}}$: Mean airway pressure, in mmHg;
• $Pa{\ce {O2}}$: Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood, in mmHg.