The approximate oxygen consumption requirement for a 70-kg adult is which of the following?

The approximate oxygen consumption requirement for a 70-kg adult is which of the following?

• A. 150 mL/min
• B. 250 mL/min
• C. 350 mL/min
• D. 450 mL/min

Answer: (B)

Resting oxygen consumption in adults is about 3.5 mL of O2 per kilogram of body weight each minute. For a 70-kg person, that averages around 3.5 x 70 ≈ 245 mL/min, which is commonly rounded to 250 mL/min. This baseline VO2 is the typical resting value used in anesthesia to estimate the body's oxygen needs at rest and to inform calculations of oxygen delivery versus consumption. Metabolic rate can rise with fever, shivering, or heightened activity, but 250 mL/min represents the standard resting estimate for a person of this size. The other numbers would reflect lower or higher metabolic states rather than resting needs.

Resting oxygen consumption in adults is about 3.5 mL of O2 per kilogram of body weight each minute. For a 70-kg person, that averages around 3.5 x 70 ≈ 245 mL/min, which is commonly rounded to 250 mL/min. This baseline VO2 is the typical resting value used in anesthesia to estimate the body's oxygen needs at rest and to inform calculations of oxygen delivery versus consumption. Metabolic rate can rise with fever, shivering, or heightened activity, but 250 mL/min represents the standard resting estimate for a person of this size. The other numbers would reflect lower or higher metabolic states rather than resting needs.