Continuous oxygen consumption measurement during initial emergency department resuscitation of critically ill...

A portable microcomputer-based monitoring system was adapted to permit frequent, on-line measurement of oxygen consumption (VO2) in critically ill, unstable patients in the ED during initial resuscitation. Nine adult patients were monitored with this system; they were found to have initial VO2 values that were markedly elevated, averaging 409 +/- 53 ml/min.m2. In the 11 major physiologic events which were observed in these patients, VO2 changes appropriately reflected alterations in the patients' clinical condition induced by therapeutic interventions or changes in cardiorespiratory state. This study demonstrates the feasibility of VO2 monitoring during initial resuscitation and suggests that measurement of VO2 in the ED may assist in the management of critically ill patients in this setting.