Weight Of Pediatric Patients Research Articles

Standardized uptake value in pediatric patients: an investigation to determine the optimum measurement parameter.

Although the standardized uptake value (SUV) is currently used in fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging, concerns have been raised over its accuracy and clinical relevance. Dependence of the SUV on body weight has been observed in adults and this should be of concern in the pediatric population, since there are significant body changes during childhood. The aim of the present study was to compare SUV measurements based on body weight, body surface area and lean body mass in the pediatric population and to determine a more reliable parameter across all ages. Sixty-eight pediatric FDG-PET studies were evaluated. Age ranged from 2 to 17 years and weight from 11 to 77 kg. Regions of interest were drawn at the liver for physiologic comparison and at FDG-avid malignant lesions. SUV based on body weight (SUV(bw)) varied across different weights, a phenomenon less evident when body surface area (SUV(bsa)) normalization is applied. Lean body mass-based SUV (SUV(lbm)) also showed a positive correlation with weight, which again was less evident when normalized to bsa (SUV(bsa-lbm)). The measured liver SUV(bw) was 1.1+/-0.3, a much lower value than in our adult population (1.9+/-0.3). The liver SUV(bsa) was 7.3+/-1.3. The tumor sites had an SUV(bw) of 4.0+/-2.7 and an SUV(bsa) of 25.9+/-15.4 (65% of the patients had neuroblastoma). The bsa-based SUVs were more constant across the pediatric ages and were less dependent on body weight than the SUV(bw). These results indicate that SUV calculated on the basis of body surface area is a more uniform parameter than SUV based on body weight in pediatric patients and is probably the most appropriate approach for the follow-up of these patients.

Estimating energy needs of pediatric patients with burns.

Recent reports indicate that formulas used to estimate the energy needs of pediatric patients with burns overestimate the energy consumption that results in maintenance of body weight in these patients. The purpose of this project was to determine which of four formulas (identified as Boston, Galveston, UCSD original, or UCSD modified) most accurately estimated the energy consumption needed to maintain body weight in pediatric patients with burns. The medical records of 12 subjects, 1 to 12 years of age, who maintained body weight (within +/- 10% of dry weight) were reviewed retrospectively. Analysis of variance was used to compare the patients' energy intakes with their estimated energy needs by use of each of the four formulas. All four formulas overestimated the energy intakes that resulted in maintenance of body weight (p < 0.05), but the estimate that used the Galveston formula was closest to actual energy consumption.

Current Treatment Reduces Calories Required to Maintain Weight in Pediatric Patients with Burns

A previous study indicated that formulas for determining caloric requirements of severely burned children overestimated their needs. This study was undertaken to determine the caloric intake required to maintain weight in patients under 12 years of age with burns over more than 30% total body surface area. The 102 patients studied were divided into two groups according to weight changes. A comparison of the actual caloric intakes of these groups was conducted. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that body surface area in square meters and burn surface were significant predictors of caloric requirements to maintain weight in these patients. It was determined that 1800 kcal was a plausible value for the calories per body surface area. Therefore the regression was formed with 1800 kcal as the multiplier of body surface area, and the multiplier of burn surface area was estimated. The resulting formula provides 1300 kcal/m2 burned, which is 900 kcal/m2 burned less than our previously suggested formula.