Clinical nutrition : official journal of the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
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A variety of indirect calorimetry (IC) devices are used for gas exchange measurement and calculation of resting energy expenditure (REE) in the pediatric intensive care unit. The aim of this investigation was to compare oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide elimination (VCO2), REE and respiratory quotient (RQ) in mechanically ventilated children, obtained by 2 devices using distinct gas sampling methods. ⋯ Despite strong correlations and small mean biases for VO2, VCO2 and REE obtained by the Vmax(®) and E-COVX(®), the limits of agreement were beyond the clinically acceptable range. These devices should not be used interchangeably for gas exchange measurements in mechanically ventilated children.