COMPARISON OF 2 METHODS, THE THERMODILUTION METHOD OF FICK AND THE DOUGLAS BAG METHOD, IN ESTIMATING THE RESTING ENERGY-EXPENDITURE (REE)

Critically ill patients need appropriate nutritional support strictly correlated to their REE to avoid complications either from hypo or hyp er alimentation. Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) in the I.C.U setting can be measured or calculated by several methods. The aim of our stud y was to compare two methods of indirect calorimetry, The REE calculat ed by the Fick equation (REET) and the traditional method of Douglas b ag (REEi). Twelve ICU patients on mechanical ventilation were studied and the following results were obtained REET = 2295+/-552 Kcal/day and REEi = 2339+/-512 Kcal/day (mean+/-sd). A good correlation between th e two methods showed by regression analysis. We conclude that the eval uation of REE using the thermodilution method of Fick is reliable in e stimating the energy expenditure of critical ill patients.