The accuracy of the estimation of body weight and height in the intensive care unit

A telephone survey of 20 English intensive care units (ICUs) confirmed that visual estimation of patient weight is often performed. Four experienced i ntensive care staff (three doctors and one nurse) estimated the weight and measured the height of 30 volunteers and the estimates were compared with a ccurate reference measurements. The estimates were shown to be significantl y inaccurate for individual observers. We consider the degree of inaccuracy to be of clinical importance. However, pooling the individual estimates of weight as mean values improved accuracy. Recommendations are made concerni ng the performance of height and weight determination.