SVR Question

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A buddy of mine just interviewed for a CRNA program. One of the questions was, when calculating SVR why do we use the constant 80 in the calculation?

As a refresher for those that need it, the formula is:

MAP-RAP/CO * 80 = SVR

The units for the 80 constant is dynes/sec. I along with some surgical residents and a couple med students and some of the staff couldn't come up with the answer. Is it there just to get the right units? Does it have to do with the average energy required to open the aortic valve or some other normal energy expenditure? We gave up, and came to no real conclusion.

Any braniacs out there care to chime in?

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You are correct in that it's a conversion factor for Woods units (from Dr. Wood, the pediatric cardiologist) ... getting from Woods units to dynes/sec/cm5 requires a conversion by 80.

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That is a bogus ass question.

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Specializes in SICU, CRNA.

I agree, if that is what that particular anesthesia program deems important, time to go somewhere else.

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They asked him a bunch of questions, which seemed trivial, most of which he admittedly didn't know and still got a very quick nod to attend. My guess would be they just want to hear you say "I don't know." Could be wrong.

But thanks for the answer!

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