Clinical nutrition : official journal of the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
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Comparative Study
Indirect calorimetry in mechanically ventilated patients. A systematic comparison of three instruments.
Indirect calorimetry is the gold standard in determining energy expenditure to dose nutritional therapy for critically ill patients. The most commonly used system for indirect calorimetry in the ICU setting (Deltatrac Metabolic Monitor) is no longer in production. The aim of this study was to compare two new instruments for IC (Quark RMR, CCM Express) to the Deltatrac in mechanically ventilated patients. ⋯ Available instruments for indirect calorimetry give conflicting estimates of energy expenditure in mechanically ventilated patients. Whilst the Quark RMR compares better with the Deltatrac than CCM Express, the mechanisms behind this difference needs to be further explored.