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Weight estimation in paediatric resuscitation: A hefty issue in N ew Z ealand
Author(s) -
Britnell Sally,
KoziolMcLain Jane
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
emergency medicine australasia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.602
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1742-6723
pISSN - 1742-6731
DOI - 10.1111/1742-6723.12389
Subject(s) - medicine , weight estimation , demographics , estimation , decile , demography , limits of agreement , pediatrics , statistics , nuclear medicine , mathematics , management , sociology , economics
Objective To test the accuracy of weight estimation methods currently used in N ew Z ealand to predict a child's weight in emergency resuscitation. Methods A prospective, observational study. Data were collected in J uly 2013 at five Auckland schools among children aged 5–10 years. Collected demographic information included age, ethnicity, sex and school decile. Standardised measures included weight, height and Broselow–Luten tape (2011 version, limited to children 43–143 cm) weight. Age‐based weight estimates were calculated for APLS , Shann and Theron formulae. Mean bias (actual weight – estimated weight) and clinical accuracy (proportion of estimates within 10% of actual weight) are reported. Bland–Altman plots illustrate agreement and 95% limits of agreement. Results The 376 participants weighed between 14.2 and 93.1 kg. The proportion of weight estimates within 10% of actual weight were 28.7%, 39.1% and 45.7% for the age‐based formula (Theron, APLS and Shann, respectively). The mean bias was negative for Theron (−6.5) and positive for APLS (7.8) and Shann (7.7). For the length‐based Broselow–Luten tape method ( n = 305), the proportion of weight estimates within 10% of actual weight was 73.4% and mean bias was 1.1. Conclusion For children under 143 cm in height, the Broselow–Luten tape outperforms other weight estimation methods, accurately estimating weight in approximately three out of four children. The age‐based estimation methods performed poorly overall, with variation by age and ethnicity.