With a metabolic monitor integrated in a ventilator it was possible to carry out continuous monitoring of calorimetric data under clinical conditions. In contrast to previous studies using indirect calorimetry, this study showed a moderate correlation between VO2 and DO2 in septic patients using either method. The clinical relevance of this finding requires further investigation. Different factors (e. g. injectant temperature, pulmonary VO2) produced substantial differences between VO2,IC and VO2,Fick as previously shown.