ABSTRACT
In fit patients who are able to increase their cardiac output, because of the nonlinear relationship of blood viscosity with haematocrit, the maximum O2 delivery to the tissues occurs at a haematocrit of 30%, corresponding to a Hb concentration of 10 g/dl. Some reconstructive and vascular surgeons now request this as a postoperative target level. The combined effect of viscosity and haematocrit is shown graphically in Figure 14.4.
