resting oxygen consumption (VO₂): 3.5 ml/kg/minute (one metabolic equivalent or 1 MET).

in young children: approximately 7 ml/kg/min at birth. The metabolic cost of respiration is higher than in adults and may reach 15% of total oxygen consumption. Similarly the metabolic rate in infants is almost twice that of adults and consequently alveolar minute volume is greater and the FRC relatively low.

At term of pregnancy, oxygen consumption at rest can increase by as much as 40% (5 ml/kg/minute) at term and further increase during labour to 60%.

sepsis syndrome, VO₂ and resting metabolic rate are enhanced by 30% (4.55 ml/kg/minute) compared with normal basal metabolism. VO₂ falls in septicaemic shock.

Dobutamine hydrochloride was infused to 12 healthy male volunteers starting at a dose of 2 micrograms/min/kg and gradually increased to 4 and 6 micrograms/min/kg. Each dose of dobutamine was infused for 20 minutes. VO₂ increased by 10-15%. (3.85-4 ml/kg/minute).