Stroke Volume Equation
Our Stroke Volume Equation will help you calculate stroke volumes with confidence using end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes.
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What is a Stroke Volume Equation?
Stroke volume, usually given in mL, is one of the most important hemodynamic parameters for assessing cardiac function, as it is highly sensitive to small changes in volume (Johnson et al., 2019).
Stroke volume is the volume of blood pumped by the left ventricle into the systemic circuit per beat. While intuitively, you might think this is the same as the volume of blood in the left ventricle following ventricular diastole or the end-diastolic volume, we also need to take into account the blood that remains in the ventricle following ventricular systole- or the end-systolic volume.
As such, stroke volume (SV) is equal to the amount of blood in the ventricle following ventricular diastole, the end-diastolic volume (EDV), minus the volume of blood remaining in the ventricle after ventricular systole, the end-systolic volume (ESV). This is written as:
SV = EDV - ESV.
Despite having just three terms, it can be easy to get the EDV and ESV acronyms mixed up or forget which way around they go, and that’s why we have created this Stroke Volume Equation resource.
With this free, printable Stroke Volume Equation, you can build confidence in calculating stroke volumes and enhance your understanding of the hemodynamic principles underlying this equation. To take the next step in understanding what this equation represents in simple terms, just keep reading!
Printable Stroke Volume Equation PDF here
Download our free Stroke Volume Equation PDF for more accurate assessment
How Does It Work?
With this printable Stroke Volume Equation, you’ll be calculating with confidence in no time. Just follow these simple steps to get started.
Enter Patient Information
The first step is to enter your patient’s details into the fields provided. You can enter these details digitally into the PDF version of this template or print out the PDF and fill it in by hand if you prefer.
Enter EDV and ESV
First up is the EDV. Enter this in the space provided using units of milliliters. Next, enter the ESV into the space provided. Careful not to get these round the wrong way, otherwise, your stroke volume value will not make a lot of sense.
Calculate Stroke Volume
To calculate stroke volume, subtract the ESV from the EDV. Things to check are that they are both in the same units, typically milliliters, and that you have entered them around the right way. The units for stroke volume will be milliliters, and this is per heartbeat.
Add Interpretation, Interventions, and Follow-up Plan
Once you have a value for the stroke value, it’s time to decide on next steps. Add your interpretation of the stroke value based on reference values or previous measurements from the same patient. Then, depending on the interpretation, add in any interventions, changes in the treatment plan, or planned follow-up if applicable.
Store this Record Securely
After adding your name and date in the space provided, the last step is to store this document securely with the rest of the patient’s medical record.
Stroke Volume Equation Example (sample)
Sometimes, before you give it a go yourself, it can be helpful to see a completed calculation, To see a worked example of a stroke volume calculation using this Stroke Volume Equation template, you can download our example template here.
Download our Stroke Volume Equation PDF here
When Would You Use This Equation?
This stroke volume equation can be used by anyone who wants to build confidence using EDV and ESV to calculate stroke volume. This may be particularly useful for students and trainees, but could also be helpful for practitioners who have not calculated stroke volume in a while or just want to be sure they have their terms around the right way. Some practitioners who may benefit from having this Stroke Volume Equation on hand include:
- Cardiologists
- Medical students and trainees
- Cardiology Researchers
- Clinical Educators
- Exercise or Sports Scientists
What Do the Results Mean?
It's important to acknowledge that relying on a single numerical value may not provide a comprehensive understanding of all the factors impacting a patient’s cardiac health. Stroke volume is a highly dynamic parameter, susceptible to influence from factors such as preload, afterload, and contractility (Johnson et al., 2019). Consequently, each individual possesses a distinct baseline for heart function, and the definition of "normal" can exhibit considerable variability among different people.
As stroke volume can be a dynamic parameter, interpreting a particular value for stroke volume can draw on several techniques, such as monitoring changes over time, establishing an individualized baseline, comparing to reference values, and utilizing clinical judgment.
Some published values for typical stroke volumes are between 50 and 100mL (Sidebotham and Le Grice, 2007). Normal stroke volume values by age, sex, body surface area, ethnicity, and modality are provided by Patel et al. (2021), and range from about 20 to 70 mL depending on these various factors.
Values outside of this normal range may indicate underlying pathology such as hypovolemia, diastolic heart failure, hyperthyroidism, septic shock, or anemia.
Why Use Carepatron as your Stroke Volume Equation App?
At Carepatron, we understand the critical role healthcare practitioners play in addressing the leading cause of death in the United States—heart disease.
We recognize the challenges practitioners face in balancing patient care with administrative tasks. At Carepatron, our mission is to empower you by streamlining your workflow and allowing you to focus on what matters most—providing optimal patient care.
Our comprehensive software suite is designed to reclaim your precious time through intelligent practice management solutions, including HIPAA-compliant patient record software, a smart medical coding system, and an integrated team calendar system. With Carepatron, you can offer your patients a seamless experience with their own patient portal software, enabling them to schedule appointments, access results, and engage in telehealth platform consultations. Embrace the efficiency of our AI-powered smart medical dictation software and a library of templates, including valuable resources like this Stroke Volume Equation, to elevate your practice and work more effectively.
Let Carepatron be your ally in enhancing patient care and making a positive impact on your patients!
References
Bruss ZS, Raja A. Physiology, Stroke Volume. [Updated 2022 Sep 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547686/
Johnson, A., Stevenson, J., Gu, H., & Huml, J. (2019). Stroke Volume Optimization. Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America, 31(3), 329–348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnc.2019.05.004
Magder, S. (2016). Volume and its relationship to cardiac output and venous return. Critical Care, 20(1), 271. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-016-1438-7
Martini, F., Ober, W., Nath, J., Bartholomew, E., & Petti, K. (2017). Visual Anatomy and Physiology. Pearson.
Patel, H. N., Miyoshi, T., Addetia, K., Henry, M. P., Citro, R., Daimon, M., Gutierrez Fajardo, P., Kasliwal, R. R., Kirkpatrick, J. N., Monaghan, M. J., Muraru, D., Ogunyankin, K. O., Park, S. W., Ronderos, R. E., Sadeghpour, A., Scalia, G. M., Takeuchi, M., Tsang, W., Tucay, E. S., … Hwang, J. (2021). Normal Values of Cardiac Output and Stroke Volume According to Measurement Technique, Age, Sex, and Ethnicity: Results of the World Alliance of Societies of Echocardiography Study. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, 34(10), 1077-1085.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.echo.2021.05.012
Sidebotham, D., & Le Grice, I. J. (2007). Physiology and Pathophysiology. In Cardiothoracic Critical Care (pp. 3-27). Butterworth-Heinemann.
Vincent, J.-L. (2008). Understanding cardiac output. Critical Care, 12(4), 174. https://doi.org/10.1186/cc6975
Commonly asked questions
Once calculated, stroke volume is often used to calculate cardiac output. The stroke volume can also be used to determine a stroke volume index or the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) (Bruss and Raja, 2022). However, with no further calculations, the stroke volume can be used as an assessment of cardiac function by comparing it to reference values or a patient’s previously recorded values.
Stroke volume index is an individual’s stroke volume normalized to their body surface area (BSA) and height and gives an estimate of stroke volume relative to a person’s body size.
This equation can be used by many healthcare practitioners, from medical students to nurses, cardiologists, or research scientists. The only prerequisites for using this equation are that the EDV and ESV are known. Further information will then be required for calculating cardiac output, i.e., heart rate.
