This physiological measurement represents the heart’s pumping efficiency relative to body surface area. It is derived by dividing the amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle with each contraction (stroke volume) by the individual’s body surface area. For example, if a person with a body surface area of 2 square meters has a stroke volume of 70 milliliters, the resulting value is 35 milliliters per square meter (mL/m).
Assessment of this parameter provides clinicians with a normalized value, enabling a more accurate evaluation of cardiac function across individuals of varying sizes. Its utility extends to identifying potential heart failure, monitoring the effectiveness of cardiac interventions, and guiding fluid management in critically ill patients. Historically, its adoption has refined diagnostic accuracy and treatment strategies in cardiovascular medicine by accounting for individual physiological differences.