On the Clinical Indices of Energy Expenditure in Low-Birth-Weight Infants: A Computerized System for Measuring the Effect of Nursing Care Activities

摘要

A computerized system measuring the clinical indices of energy expenditure - heart rate, temperature, and activity - was pilot tested on 3 LBW infants over 24 hours. Mean heel temperature was 34.7°C; mean abdominal skin temperature was 35.1°C; mean incubator wall temperature was 29°C; and mean air temperature was 25.5°C. The mean heart rate was 163 beats/min and mean activity level was 8-9 baseline crossings/ min. A correlation of .84 was established between the number of voltage baseline crossings and an established clinical observational tool of motor activity. This is a valid, reliable system.