title: The effect of air fluidised bed therapy on hypermetabolism in intensive care unit patients.
abstract: Major trauma is associated with a hypermetabolic (increased resting energy expenditure) and hypercatabolic (negative nitrogen balance) response. Studies have suggested that nursing injured patients at higher temperatures reduces the metabolic response (Ryan & Clague 1990). In this study the energy expenditure and urinary nitrogen excretion of major trauma patients was examined when nursing them on an air-fluidised bed at 32 degrees C using a crossover study design. Patients were randomised into two groups. Group A patients (n = 8) remained on a standard intensive care unit bed at an environmental temperature of 22 degrees C while Group B patients (n = 6) were placed on an air-fluidised bed operating at 32 degrees C. On days 4 and 5 after injury, energy expenditure and urinary nitrogen excretion were measured. On day 6, Group A patients transferred to an air-fluidised bed and Group B patients to a standard bed. On days 7 and 8, energy expenditure and urinary nitrogen excretion were again measured. Within group comparisons of energy expenditure and urinary nitrogen excretion were made for days 3 and 4 (period 1) and days 7 and 8 (period 2). In both groups, mean energy expenditure was significantly increased in the second period irrespective of whether air-fluidised bed therapy preceded or followed a period on a standard bed. We concluded that nursing intensive care patients on an air-fluidised bed at 32 degrees C did not influence energy expenditure or urinary nitrogen.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blackwood
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: McLeod
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Lavery
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Rowlands
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D001513:Beds; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D016638:Critical Illness; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*