QUANTITATIVE-EVALUATION OF CLINICAL COURSE IN SURGICAL ICU PATIENTS - THE DATA CONFORM TO CATASTROPHE-THEORY

A response surface for critically ill patients is described. The coordinates of the 3-dimensional response surface are 2 control variables, or state variables, related to aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, and a response variable, the A-VO2 [arterial-venous O2 consumption] difference. The data conform to a cusp catastrophe manifold. Cardiac insufficiency, adaptive response to stress and sepsis may be distinguished by this model. The distinction between control and response variables is discussed.