Simple and versatile method for measuring oxygen consumption in infants.

Abstract

SUMMARY A simple, rapid, and accurate method for measuring oxygen consumption in infants is described. Expired gas is entrained in a stream of air drawn through a gently applied face mask. Oxygen consumption is derived from (1) gas flow rate, measured with a flowmeter, and (2) the fall in oxygen concentration of the gas mixture, measured with a paramagnetic analyser. A measurement can be made at the bedside within 2 minutes without disturbing the infant. In 17 mature 2-day-old neonates mean oxygen consumption was 6 52 ml/kg per min, SD 0 90, similar to that previously reported using less simple methods.

Estimating Neonatal Oxygen Consumption from Heart Rate

“…was measured with an open cjrcuit system designed for use in the neonatal nursery {Evans, Gray, Holland, & Wardrop, 1978). A pliable rubber mask connected to a coaxial circuit is placed over the neonate's nose and mouth and air is drawn through the circuit at 2.2 1/min-kg, entraining the neonate's expirations.…”