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Ideal Body Weight

Predicted body weight from height and sex (Devine formula) — the basis for lung-protective tidal volume dosing.

Formula

Male: IBW = 50 + 2.3 × (height in inches − 60). Female: IBW = 45.5 + 2.3 × (height in inches − 60)

Result

Enter all values to see the result.

Limitations

  • The Devine formula is only validated for adult heights of roughly 152 cm (5 ft) and above.
  • Predicted (ideal) body weight, not measured body weight — it's deliberately used for dosing tidal volume regardless of a patient's actual weight, including in obesity.
  • Doesn't account for amputation or significant body habitus variation outside the population the formula was derived from.

References

  • Devine BJ. Gentamicin therapy. Drug Intell Clin Pharm. 1974 (origin of the commonly used IBW formula).

Clinical Context & Relevant Topics (3)

Disease Reference
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Acute, diffuse inflammatory lung injury causing hypoxemia and bilateral infiltrates not fully explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload.

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Invasive Mechanical Ventilation

Complete clinical topic overview. For the full 10-level interactive course, visit Master MV. Covers core ventilator modes, respiratory mechanics (Cstat, Raw, driving pressure), waveform dyssynchrony analysis, VILI prevention, and liberation protocols.

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Critical Illness Nutrition & Metabolism

Phased energy and protein delivery, early enteral nutrition when safe, indirect calorimetry, refeeding prevention, feeding-intolerance troubleshooting, and individualized parenteral nutrition timing.

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Relevant Clinical Pathways (12)

Decision Protocols
Mechanical Ventilation Initiation Workflow

From post-intubation verification and lung-protective settings to mechanics optimization.

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Mechanical Ventilation Liberation & Weaning

From readiness screening and spontaneous breathing trials to extubation and post-extubation support.

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