A patient in the intensive care unit is at risk for developing malnutrition. In order to prevent this, which of the following physiological tests can be done to estimate this patient's caloric needs to plan for supplementation?
1. direct calorimetry
2. indirect calorimetry
3. albumin level
4. total lymphocyte count
2
Rationale: Indirect calorimetry is the most accurate method for determining energy requirements. It measures a patient's actual energy expenditure in order to determine precise needs of the patient. Direct calorimetry measures whole body heat production while the patient is isolated in a chamber or a room specifically equipped for this purpose, which makes it highly impractical for clinical application. Albumin level and total lymphocyte count are laboratory tests, not physiological studies, used to assess nutritional status.
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