Comparison between the Datex-Ohmeda M-COVX metabolic monitor and the Deltatrac II in mechanically ventilated patients.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the M-COVX and the Deltatrac II metabolic monitors under clinical conditions.


METHODS
Prospective clinical comparison.


METHODS
A general Intensive Care Unit of a university hospital.


METHODS
Twenty mechanically ventilated critically ill patients.


METHODS
The monitors were compared at FiO(2) 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 in each patient where possible.


RESULTS
Pulmonary gas exchange measurements were recorded using the two monitors sequentially (Deltatrac(before), M-COVX, Deltatrac(after)). Each measurement consisted of five consecutive 1-min readings of VO(2) and VCO(2). We compared the Deltatrac(before) with the Deltatrac(after) and the mean of the Deltatrac with the M-COVX. There was no clinically significant bias between the two monitors for VO(2) or VCO(2) but the limits of agreement (LOA) were wide (bias +/-95% LOA: VCO(2) -13 +/- 30 ml/min, -8 +/- 36 ml/min, 7 +/- 50 ml/min; VO(2) -7 +/- 50 ml/min, -5 +/- 56 ml/min, 6 +/- 64 ml/min, at FiO(2) 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7, respectively). The Deltatrac before and after measurements displayed good agreement for VCO(2) but poorer agreement for VO(2) (bias +/- 95% LOA: VCO(2) 0 +/- 18 ml/min, -6 +/- 16 ml/min, -1 +/- 12 ml/min; VO(2) 2 +/- 12 ml/min, 3 +/- 38 ml/min, 10 +/- 42 ml/min, at FiO(2) 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7, respectively). Using within-patient standard deviation as a measure of reproducibility suggested that for VO(2) the M-COVX performed better than the Deltatrac at high FiO(2), and for VCO(2) Deltatrac was better at lower FiO(2).


CONCLUSIONS
The M-COVX is a suitable integrated device for measuring metabolic gas exchange in ventilated patients.
McLellan
S
S
Department of Anaesthetics, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH3 9YW, Scotland, UK. stu.mclellan@ed.ac.uk
Walsh
T
T
Burdess
A
A
Lee
A
A
D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012606:Scotland
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen