Figure 2

Relationship between arterial blood lactate levels and oxygen delivery (DO ₂ )/mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO ₂ ) _. No critical values of DO₂ or SvO₂ were seen to be associated with hyperlactatemia in septic patients (mean values of lactate 5.3 mmol/L). Increases in arterial lactate concentrations were present over a wide range of DO₂ and SvO₂ values.