Daily Calorie and Fluid Calculations in the Intensive Care Nursery Using a Pocket Computer

A computer program, run on a hand-held printing pocket computer, that simplifies routine calorie and fluid calculations on high-risk neonates in the intensive care nursery is described. It is useful in performing these calculations on patients with parenteral nutrition, diluted feedings, other intravenous fluids, and medium-chain triglyceride oil supplements, all of which make calorie and fluid calculations by hand very difficult. Both physician and nonphysician personnel can be taught to use this program, allowing them to quickly and easily perform the otherwise laborious fluid and calorie calculations, even on complicated patients.