• Michelle T Thompson, Michael J Reading, and Jason P Acworth.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
• Emerg Med Australas. 2007 Dec 1;19(6):535-42.

BackgroundDuring 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.ObjectiveTo 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.MethodsA 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 (<1 year), preschool-aged (1-4 years) and school-aged (5-14 years) children. Mean actual error and mean percentage error for each was calculated.ResultsA total of 1843 patient weights were included in the study. The Best Guess Infant formula accurately estimated weight (mean percentage error +4.2%). The Best Guess formulae more accurately estimated weight than both APLS and ARC formulae for both preschool-aged children (mean percentage error +2.6% vs-12.1% vs-12.1%) and school-aged children (mean percentage error +7.7% vs-19.9% vs-12.4%).ConclusionThe Best Guess formulae is a valid method for age-based weight estimation in acutely unwell or injured children presenting to the ED and more accurately predicts mean weight than either APLS or ARC formulae.

12 keywords...

hide…