Estimating energy needs of pediatric patients with burns

Recent reports indicate that formulas used to estimate the energy needs of pediatric patients with burns overestimate the energy consumption that results in maintenance of body weight in these patients. The purpose of this project was to determine which of four formulas (identified as Boston, Galveston, UCSD original, or UCSD modified) most accurately estimated the energy consumption needed to maintain body weight in pediatric patients with burns. The medical records of 12 subjects, 1 to 12 years of age, who maintained body weight (within +/- 10% of dry weight) were reviewed retrospectively. Analysis of variance was used to compare the patients' energy intakes with their estimated energy needs by use of each of the four formulas. All four formulas overestimated the energy intakes that resulted in maintenance of body weight (p < 0.05), but the estimate that used the Galveston formula was closest to actual energy consumption.