A 70 kg man is admitted to ICU post emergency laparotomy. Using the Harris-Benedict equation for males (66.5 + 13.8 x weight in kg + 5 x height in cm - 6.8 x age in years), calculate the approximate basal energy expenditure for a patient who is 170 cm tall and 55 years old.

• A 1,800 to 1,900 kcal/day
• B 1,550 to 1,650 kcal/day
• C 1,350 to 1,450 kcal/day ✓
• D 1,100 to 1,200 kcal/day

Explanation

Harris-Benedict calculation yields 66.5 + (13.8 x 70) + (5 x 170) - (6.8 x 55) = 66.5 + 966 + 850 - 374 = 1,508.5 kcal/day as BEE. The closest range is 1,350 to 1,450. For critically ill patients a stress factor of 1.2 to 1.3 is applied, but the question asks for basal energy expenditure without stress factor.

Reference: Ganong's Review of Medical Physiology, 26th ed.

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