An accurate method for the continuous measurement of oxygen consumption in infants during cardiac catheterization

This paper describes the assessment of a method for measuring the oxygen consumption of infants and young children that is suitable for use in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. It is based upon the open-circuit technique and permits the continuous display of the oxygen consumption during the investigative procedures. The accuracy of the apparatus was assessed over the range 40-200 ml/min, both in vitro and in vivo. It was found that the apparatus was free from systematic error and that it had a random error of approximately 2% of the measured value.