Best Guess method for age-based weight estimation in paediatric emergencies: Validation and comparison with current methods

Background:  During paediatric resuscitation, drug doses are calculated based upon weight. Age‐based weight estimates are used when weighing children is impractical. The average weight of Australian children has increased, and widely used paediatric age‐based formulae might underestimate weight. A m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emergency medicine Australasia 2007-12, Vol.19 (6), p.535-542
Main Authors: Thompson, Michelle T, Reading, Michael J, Acworth, Jason P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Anthropometry - methods
Body Weight
bodyweight
Child
Child, Preschool
Humans
Infant
paediatric
Pediatrics - methods
Retrospective Studies
statistical method
Triage
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Summary:Background:  During paediatric resuscitation, drug doses are calculated based upon weight. Age‐based weight estimates are used when weighing children is impractical. The average weight of Australian children has increased, and widely used paediatric age‐based formulae might underestimate weight. A modified age‐based method for paediatric weight calculation, the ‘Best Guess’, has been described. Objective:  To validate the Best Guess formulae on a new population of paediatric emergency patients, and to compare the accuracy of this method with Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) and Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) formulae for age‐based weight calculations. Methods:  A retrospective study was performed of Australasian Triage Scale (ATS) category 1 or 2 patients presenting to a tertiary paediatric ED over a 12 month period. Calculated weights using each method (APLS, ARC and Best Guess) were compared with true weights for infants (
ISSN:1742-6731
1742-6723
DOI:10.1111/j.1742-6723.2007.01031.x