Energy expenditure in patients with multiple organ failure

We measured the level of resting energy expenditure (BEE) and its evolution in patients with multiple organ failure (MOF). We studied 30 patients requiring mechanical ventilation and sedation. REE was measured by means of a closed circuit method on days 1-5, 7, 10 and 14 after initiating the protocol. REE values between 115% and 145% of the REE calculated from the Harris-Benedict's formula were considered as moderate hypermetabolism and values above 145% as severe hypermetabolism. A predictive formula for determining caloric requirements was developed and validated in another 25 MOF patients. In the study group, 25 patients presented moderate hypermetabolism (83%) and two severe hypermetabolism(7%). Mean REE in the whole group was stable but individual patients may have had a large variability in REE. The anthropometric variables, body temperature and reason for admission predicted the REE with a coefficient of determination of 0.73, according to the model: REE= -3295 + 105.5S - 8A + 11.7 W + 7.7 H + 93.2 T + 123.1 Tr - 145.6 Su where: S = sex (male = 1, female = 0); A: age in years; W: weight in Kg; H: height in cm; T: temperature in degrees C; Tr: trauma (Tr = 1); Su: surgical (Su = 1). The reliability of the model, taken from the validation group, showed that the shrinkage was 0.8%. In conclusion, when MOF patients are sedated they present moderate hypermetabolism. Day-to-day variability of REE in the individual patients and the large variability in estimating REE with our formula preclude its clinical utility and we recommend to measure REE in MOF patients.