Abstract
Summary: We have developed a method for measuring oxygen consumption (VO2) in preterm infants in their normal incubator environment over prolonged periods. The results of measurements made over 24 h in 18 infants are presented. In normally grown infants, the mean VO2 was 9.66 ± 1.25 liters/kg·24 h (SD) (6.71 ± 0.87 ml/kg·min), and in small for gestation infants it was 10.09 ± 1.21 liters/kg·24 h (7.00 ± 0.84 ml/kg·min). During the 24-h measurements, the highest mean VO2 during 3 consecutive h was 7.75 ± 0.89 ml/kg·min and the lowest was 5.95 ± 0.92 ml/kg·min. The difference between the highest and the lowest values was significant (p < 0.001). There is room for considerable error if short term measurements are assumed to represent values over a whole day. “Short” measurements should be made over at least 6 h.
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Abdulrazzaq, Y., Brooke, O. Respiratory Metabolism in Preterm Infants: the Measurement of Oxygen Consumpton during Prolonged Periods. Pediatr Res 18, 928–931 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198410000-00003
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198410000-00003