What is the normal range for Cardiac Index in liters per minute?

The normal range for Cardiac Index, which reflects the efficiency of the heart in terms of cardiac output relative to body surface area, is typically between 2.5 to 4.0 liters per minute. This index helps clinicians assess the overall cardiovascular function and is crucial for evaluating patients in a critical or post-operative setting.

Cardiac Index is particularly valuable because it normalizes the cardiac output (the amount of blood the heart pumps in one minute) to the patient's size, allowing for better interpretation of heart performance across individuals of varying sizes. When values fall below or exceed this range, it can indicate potential heart dysfunction or varying degrees of cardiovascular stress, making timely intervention necessary.

In this context, the other ranges provided do not align with the established physiological norms for Cardiac Index and may cause confusion in clinical assessments.