Physiological measurement
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Physiological measurement · Feb 1996
Comparative StudyThe performance of a variable-flow indirect calorimeter.
Indirect calorimetry estimates energy expenditure from measurement of respiratory gas exchange volumes. This paper considers the design and evaluation of an indirect calorimeter, the Europa GEM, suitable for use in nutritional research. The calorimeter is of the ventilated hood, flow-through type and is intended for use with spontaneously breathing patients. ⋯ Performance was assessed in a laboratory simulation using reference gas injections (n = 24) producing a mean error of 0.3 +/- 2% in oxygen consumption (VO2), 1.8 +/- 1% in carbon dioxide production (VCO2) and 1.4 +/- 1.5% in respiratory quotient (RQ). In order to investigate the effect of FeCO2 on error multiplication a further subdivision (n = 8) of tests at FeCO2 = 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% was made by modulating the air flow through the hood. However, the predicted increase in system accuracy with increasing FeCO2 was not apparent in practice.
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Physiological measurement · Feb 1996
The lowering of stroke volume measured by means of impedance cardiography during endexpiratory breath holding.
Impedance cardiography is a reliable method for estimating stroke volume (SV). Breathing, however, causes artefacts, which can be avoided by measuring during breath holding. This study investigated whether SV determination is accurate during breath holding. ⋯ This indicates that the SV decrease was not caused by a Valsalva-like manoeuvre. The mean SV value calculated by means of impedance cardiography for the total breath hold period was significantly lower than the SV during breathing, both at rest (91.7 +/- 2.4%) and at 100 W (90.5 +/- 7.0%). From this study it can be concluded that averaging of the impedance signal, measured while the subject is breathing, is preferential to measuring during breath holding, because the latter condition systematically underestimates SV.