[Arterial oxygen status as a limiting factor in hemodilution].

Normovolemic hemodilution under normoxic conditions (arterial oxygen partial pressure normal) at rest is limited by the critical arterial oxygen content of about 10 ml/dl corresponding to a hemoglobin concentration of 7.5 g/dl. This critical oxygen content is derived from the arteriovenous oxygen difference of the myocardium, assumed that the coronary blood flow is increased by 33% and the available oxygen is utilized nearly totally. Furthermore, stored blood (blood bag) seems to be of minor therapeutic effect because of the left shifted oxygen content curve combined with a reduced effective Hb concentration.