Research
Rest energy expenditure is decreased during the acute as compared to the recovery phase of sepsis in newborns
-
* Corresponding author: Rubens Feferbaum rfeferbaum@uol.com.br
1 Departamento de Pediatria, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brasil
2 Departamento de Saúde Materno-infantil, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brasil
3 Departamento de Medicina, Disciplina de Cardiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brasil
4 Departamento de Morfologia e Fisiologia, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brasil
Nutrition & Metabolism 2010, 7:63 doi:10.1186/1743-7075-7-63
Published: 23 July 2010Abstract
Background
Little is known with respect to the metabolic response and the requirements of infected newborns. Moreover, the nutritional needs and particularly the energy metabolism of newborns with sepsis are controversial matter. In this investigation we aimed to evaluate the rest energy expenditure (REE) of newborns with bacterial sepsis during the acute and the recovery phases.
Methods
We studied nineteen neonates (27.3 ± 17.2 days old) with bacterial sepsis during the acute phase and recovery of their illness. REE was determined by indirect calorimetry and VO2 and VCO2 measured by gas chromatography.
Results
REE significantly increased from 49.4 ± 13.1 kcal/kg/day during the acute to 68.3 ± 10.9 kcal/kg/day during recovery phase of sepsis (P < 0.01). Similarly, VO2 (7.4 ± 1.9 vs 10 ± 1.5 ml/kg/min) and VCO2 (5.1 ± 1.7 vs 7.4 ± 1.5 ml/kg/min) were also increased during the course of the disease (P < 0.01).
Conclusion
REE was increased during recovery compared to the sepsis phase. REE of septic newborns should be calculated on individualized basis, bearing in mind their metabolic capabilities.