title: Clinical use of pulse rates to determine daily energy expenditures in trauma and surgical patients.
abstract: This study was conducted to establish practical application by using pulse rates to determine resting energy expenditures in trauma and surgical patients. A continuous flow gas analyzer measured energy expenditures and a cardiotachometer/recorder determined pulse rates simultaneously. The study consisted of 18 normal subjects as controls, seven surgical patients (totaling 36 samples), a combination of the seven surgical and three trauma patients (totaling 23 samples). The group of seven surgical patients had a correlation coefficient of 0.531 when comparing pulse rate/min with kcal/m2/hr, and this was the best correlation among the group population studied. An attempt to establish a single regression line from individual patients showed no significant correlation, with the exception of two surgical patients. Of the total number of patient samples, we found no significant correlation between pulse rate and energy expenditures. Independently, Andrews (Am J Clin Nutr 24:1139-1147, 1971) and Payne (Am J Clin Nutr 24:1164-1170, 1971) suggested that there are multiple variables such as stroke volume, state of physical training, etc., that affect the outcome of such data. In this study, our variables were more extensive with respect to the severity of injuries and varying degrees of surgical procedures. The study concluded that there is no practical clinical use of pulse rates in determining daily resting energy expenditures of surgical or trauma patients.
mesh_terms: D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011674:Pulse; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*