IMPROVE ON PERFORMANCE OF INDIRECT CALORIMETRY FOR SMALL PRETERM INFANTS

An indirect calorimetry system of measuring oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production has been frequently used for preterm infants. The energy consumption and metabolic measurements are based on flow-through technology. The noninvasive measurement feature of the indirect calorimeter is widely used in pediatric clinical research. However, the indirect calorimeter has several limitations for small preterm infants, particularly the ill infant weighing < 1.0 kg. In this paper, we propose some technologies and methodologies to improve the performance of the indirect calorimetry. According to these technologies and methodologies, we redesign the indirect calorimeter proposed in our pervious study. The laboratory evaluation at the different alcohol combustion rates and several exhaust flow rates is used to survey the improved performance. As the results, the accuracy and precision is enhanced by these methods and the lowest oxygen consumption rate, 4.35 ml/min, fits for baby weight of 0.66 kg. It is demonstrated that the performances of new indirect calorimetry are substantially improved. It can be applied to calculate the energy consumption and metabolic rate for low-birth-weight infants in clinical research.