European Journal of Anaesthesiology

Table of Contents - 2000 - Volume 17, Issue 11  


Original Article
(RD) Surgery

The accuracy of the estimation of body weight and height in the intensive care unit

T. S. Leary a1, Q. J. W. Milner a1 and D. J. Niblett a1c1
a1 Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Bedford Hospital, Kempston Road, Bedford MK43 8BH, UK

Article author query
leary ts   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
milner qjw   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
niblett dj   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

A telephone survey of 20 English intensive care units (ICUs) confirmed that visual estimation of patient weight is often performed. Four experienced intensive care staff (three doctors and one nurse) estimated the weight and measured the height of 30 volunteers and the estimates were compared with accurate reference measurements. The estimates were shown to be significantly inaccurate for individual observers. We consider the degree of inaccuracy to be of clinical importance. However, pooling the individual estimates of weight as mean values improved accuracy. Recommendations are made concerning the performance of height and weight determination.

(Published Online August 16 2006)
(Accepted May 2000)


Key Words: measurement; body height; body weight.

Correspondence:
c1 Correspondence: David Niblett.