Several risk factors have been identified insurgical patients and attempts have been made to predict the outcome in such patients. Among these risk factors are oxygen delivery (DO2) and oxygen consumption (VO2) values. Several studies were conducted in which specific values for calculated DO2 and VO2 were used as criteria for strategies to improve outcome in different types of critically ill patients. We will review the rationale and evidence for this type of therapy in the perioperative phase of the high risk surgical patient
