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Daily energy expenditure is conceptually composed of 4 parts:
the basal metabolic rate ,specific dynamic energy of food,
energy expenditure related to activities,and thermal stress .It
is difficult to estimate daily energy expendi- ture unless
continuous O2 consumption (VO2) and CO2 produ- tion (VCO2) can
be measured .This study describes a simple method to calculate
total and interim changes or daily O2 consumption in premature
infants. Oxygen consumption and CO2 production will be measured
using a flow-through technique,and the total VO2 and VCO2 over
a given period of time will be determined through a computer
system . This system will automatically calculate not only
minute to minute VO2 and VCO2 but also VO2 and VCO2 over a
period of time,eg. 24 hours.The present method has certain
advantages over the tradition method which measured VO2 and
VCO2 intermittently. The present method probably reflects
more the true energy expenditure of the infant's daily life
and it can be applied in the bed-side of the infants during
their ongoing nursery care.
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