Horowitz index

The Horovitz - quotient (synonyms: oxygenation after Horovitz, Horovitz - index) is a mainly used in intensive care medicine measure of lung function, with which the extent of damage to the lungs can be described. The simple abbreviation as oxygenation can lead to confusion with the other conceptualizations of OI oxygenation index ( see, inter alia ).

The Horovitz - quotient is defined as the ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure ( PaO2, cf blood gas analysis ) and the concentration of oxygen in the inhaled air ( inspiratory oxygen concentration FiO2 ).

In healthy lungs the Horovitz - quotient is dependent on age usually between 350 and 450 mmHg. A value below 300-200 mmHg is considered indicative for a slight lung injury, a value 200-100 mmHg for a moderate degree of lung damage and a value below 100 mmHg for a severe lung damage. This new grading applies since 2012 and was enshrined in the Berlin classification. This was the old classification from 1994, which defined a Horovitzindex between 300-200 as acute lung injury (ALI), replaced.

Swell

• Clinic Guide Intensive Care Medicine 6th Edition 2005, p 101

• The diagnostic method in intensive care
• Apparative investigation procedure