Figure 1

Perfluorocarbon emulsion and blood-based oxygen transport: oxygendissociation curve of native human blood (Blood) and a perfluorocarbon (PFC)emulsion. Note that 5 volume % (5 Vol%) of oxygen can be offloaded by blood aswell as by a PFC emulsion. With a PFC emulsion, higher arterial partial oxygentension values are required. Note also that PFC emulsion-transported oxygen ismore completely offloaded than blood-transported oxygen, resulting in anapproximate oxygen extraction (O2-Ex.) ratio of 90% for the PFC emulsion, ascompared with approximately 25% for blood, assuming a normal mixed venouspartial oxygen tension of approximately 40 mmHg. C O2, oxygen content; PO2,partial oxygen tension. Modified according to Looker et al [24] and Keipert et al [11]).