Authors' recommendations: There was no evidence identified to support that indirect calorimetry has a direct impact on patient outcomes. The only available evidence found to support use of indirect calorimetry in the ICU setting was from a number of small, prospective, and retrospective observational studies. The overall results of these studies were conflicting and inconclusive. No health technology assessments, meta-analyses, RCTs or economic evaluations of indirect calorimetry were identified. Three clinical practice guidelines that dealt with nutritional support in critically ill patients were identified in which indirect calorimetry was specifically mentioned. Two of the guidelines supported the use of indirect calorimetry in critically ill patients, whereas the third guideline, which was Canadian-based, concluded that there were insufficient data to make a recommendation on the use of indirect calorimetry versus predictive equations for determining energy needs for enteral nutrition in critically ill patients.At present, indirect calorimetry is considered to be the “gold standard”; however, the lack of evidence, cost, availability of the instrumentation, and the need for specially trained personnel to operate the equipment and interpret the results may preclude its widespread use.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.cadth.ca/media/pdf/htis/L0065%20Indirect%20Calorimetry%20to%20Measure%20Energy%20Requirements%20final.pdf

Year Published: 2009

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;

Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca

Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca

Copyright: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)