In critically ill patients, measurement of mixed venous oxygenation is useful as an indicator of the adequacy of tissue oxygenation and as an indirect reflection of cardiac output. The flexible fiberoptic pulmonary artery catheter oximeter permits continuous in vivo measurements of the mixed venous oxygen saturation. However, in some groups of critically ill patients, such as those with adult respiratory distress syndrome or sepsis, measurements of mixed venous oxygen may be misleading and should be interpreted with caution.
在危重症患者中，混合静脉血氧测定作为组织氧合充足程度的指标以及心输出量的间接反映是有用的。可弯曲的纤维光学肺动脉导管血氧计能对混合静脉血氧饱和度进行连续的体内测量。然而，在某些危重症患者群体中，如患有成人呼吸窘迫综合征或脓毒症的患者，混合静脉血氧测量结果可能会产生误导，应谨慎解读。
