[The usefulness of measuring caloric expenditure in ICU patients]

Traditionally, the energetic needs of patients subjected to parenteral nutrition have been calculated by means of formulae or nomograms. We are currently aware of the lack of correlation between the estimated needs and those calculated, especially in critical patients. For this reason, we have posed the question of the calculation of the Basal Energy Expenditure in a group of 43 patients from our Unit, divided into four subgroups: Septic, Neurological, Digestive and Postoperative following Cardiac Surgery. The Septic patients had the greatest energy expenditure, followed by the Neurological, Digestive and Post Cardiac Surgery. In all the patients studied, we found good correlations between temperature and energy expenditure and between temperature and oxygen consumption. The correlation between oxygen consumption and energy expenditure was linear.