Accuracy of weight and height estimation in an intensive care unit: Implications for clinical practice and research*

Bloomfield, Roxanna; Steel, Elizabeth; MacLennan, Graeme; Noble, David W.

doi:10.1097/01.ccm.0000229145.04482.93

Cited by 115 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Our results are in agreement with previous data that showed inaccuracy of visual estimations in different populations. [15][16][17][18]31,32 To our knowledge, there is no study evaluating accuracy of the tape measure method in bedridden patients in comparison with the reference method with a height gauge when patients are standing upright. Several methods have been described to obtain a patient's height indirectly, among which lower leg measurement (kneeheel length, Chumlea method), [24][25][26] forearm measurement (from elbow to wrist), and demispan (distance from the middle of the sternal notch to the tip of the middle finger in the coronal plane) are the most frequently evaluated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…13,14 However, visual estimation of height and, even more so, of PBW can be inaccurate. [15][16][17][18] In addition, despite strong evidence and recommendations, protective mechanical ventilation is not optimally implemented [19][20][21][22][23] ; unavailability of the height may be an additional barrier. 11 Considering the central role of the physiologic value of the patient's height and its impact on mechanical ventilation settings, we conducted this study to evaluate the accuracy of usual measurements of height in mechanically ventilated patients and to assess alternative measurements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparison of Usual and Alternative Methods to Measure Height in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: Potential Impact on Protective Ventilation

et al. 2013

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BACKGROUND: Protective ventilation implementation requires the calculation of predicted body weight (PBW), determined by a formula based on gender and height. Consequently, height inaccuracy may be a limiting factor to correctly set tidal volumes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of different methods in measuring heights in mechanically ventilated patients. METHODS: Before cardiac surgery, actual height was measured with a height gauge while subjects were standing upright (reference method); the height was also estimated by alternative methods based on lower leg and forearm measurements. After cardiac surgery, upon ICU admission, a subject's height was visually estimated by a clinician and then measured with a tape measure while the subject was supine and undergoing mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: One hundred subjects (75 men, 25 women) were prospectively included. Mean PBW was 61.0 ؎ 9.7 kg, and mean actual weight was 30.3% higher. In comparison with the reference method, estimating the height visually and using the tape measure were less accurate than both lower leg and forearm measurements. Errors above 10% in calculating the PBW were present in 25 and 40 subjects when the tape measure or visual estimation of height was used in the formula, respectively. With lower leg and forearm measurements, 15 subjects had errors above 10% (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that significant variability exists between the different methods used to measure height in bedridden patients on mechanical ventilation. Alternative methods based on lower leg and forearm measurements are potentially interesting solutions to facilitate the accurate application of protective ventilation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Usual and Alternative Methods to Measure Height in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: Potential Impact on Protective Ventilation

et al. 2013

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“…In a small sample of intensive care unit patients, Bloomfield et al found that 18 of 20 bedside estimates were within 15% of true height and the majority were within 10% (11). No studies, however, have evaluated the ability of health care providers to estimate true height (TH), and by extraction, IBW in a large ED sample of patients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bedside Estimation of Patient Height for Calculating Ideal Body Weight in the Emergency Department

Stehman

Buckley

Santos³

et al. 2011

The Journal of Emergency Medicine

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e Abstract-Background: Ideal body weight (IBW), which can be calculated using the variables of true height and sex, is important for drug dosing and ventilator settings. True height often cannot be measured in the emergency department (ED). Objectives: Determine the most accurate method to estimate IBW using true height-based IBW that uses true height estimated by providers or patients compared to true height estimated by a regression formula using measured tibial length, and compare all to the con-

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“…Weight is more problematic with Hendershot et al (1) reporting significant inaccuracies between patient-reported and relativereported weight. Estimation of weight by experienced healthcare providers has also been shown to be grossly inaccurate (2) .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Weighing patients in Scottish critical care units: weighed down by Inaccuracy?

Hurnauth

McDougall

2010

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

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Accuracy of weight and height estimation in an intensive care unit: Implications for clinical practice and research*

Abstract: Individual estimates of weight and height are frequently inaccurate. These errors of estimation could compromise application of effective therapies, as well as contribute to a reduction in design sensitivity of clinical trials.

Cited by 115 publications

References 34 publications

Comparison of Usual and Alternative Methods to Measure Height in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: Potential Impact on Protective Ventilation

Comparison of Usual and Alternative Methods to Measure Height in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: Potential Impact on Protective Ventilation

Bedside Estimation of Patient Height for Calculating Ideal Body Weight in the Emergency Department

Weighing patients in Scottish critical care units: weighed down by Inaccuracy?

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