Calculate Cardiac Index in Heart Failure

A 72-year-old patient diagnosed with heart failure is admitted to the telemetry unit for monitoring. The patient's initial hemodynamic parameters reveal a cardiac output (CO) of 4.0 L/min, a systemic vascular resistance (SVR) of 1,800 dynes·sec/cm⁵, and a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 70 mmHg. As part of a comprehensive assessment, the nurse notes a target MAP should ideally range between 70–100 mmHg to ensure adequate organ perfusion. During the shift, the patient demonstrates signs of worsening cardiac output.

The nurse must evaluate the patient's current systemic vascular resistance and cardiac index (CI) to understand hemodynamic stability. The formula for calculating Cardiac Index is:

CI = CO / Body Surface Area (BSA)

The patient's body surface area is calculated to be 1.8 m². Calculate the Cardiac Index (CI) for this patient. Fill in the blank with the correct Cardiac Index value rounded to two decimal places.

CI = ________________ L/min/m²