Wed3November0832PM 9

A 6-year old child is admitted to the Emergency department following a near drowning accident and advanced paediatric life support initiated.

According to the Resuscitation Council (UK), European Resuscitation Council, and the Royal College of Anaesthetists preferred formulae, what is the child's approximate weight?

(Please select 1 option)

29-34kg

20-25kg Correct

34-39 kg

15-19 kg

26-29 kg

Explanation

The formula taught on Resuscitation Council (UK) and European Resuscitation Council courses for estimating the weight of a child is as follows:

Weight = (age + 4) × 2

The child's weight will be approximately 20 kg.

The Royal College of Anaesthetists uses this formula in the Primary FRCA exam.

The traditional 'APLS formula' for weight estimation in children based on age (wt in kg = [age+4] x 2) is recognised as underestimating weight (by a mean of 33.4%) in 'developed' countries, with the degree of underestimation increasing with increasing age.

However more recently the APLS formula 'Weight=3(age)+7' provides a mean underestimate of only 6.9% this formula remains applicable from 1 to 13 years inclusive.

Using this formula the espimated weight based on age is 25 kg

Answer Statistics

1

3%

2

80%

3

1%

4

10%

5

8%

Times answered: 274