African journal of emergency medicine : Revue africaine de la medecine d'urgence
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When weight cannot be measured during the management of medical emergencies in children, a convenient, quick and accurate method of weight estimation is required, as many drug doses and other interventions are based on body weight. Many weight estimation methodologies in current use have been shown to be inaccurate, especially in low- and middle-income countries with a high prevalence of underweight children. This meta-analysis evaluated the accuracy of weight estimation systems in children from studies from low- and middle-income countries. ⋯ The PAWPER tape, the Wozniak method and the Mercy method achieved an acceptable level of accuracy in studies from low- and middle-income countries and should preferentially be used and further advanced for clinical emergency medicine practice. Parental estimates may be considered if the regular caregiver of the child is present and a recent measured weight is known. The Broselow tape and age-based formulas should be abandoned in low- and middle-income country populations as they are potentially dangerously inaccurate.