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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
06:59

A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings

Published on: November 9, 2016

A rapid method for estimating weight and resuscitation drug dosages from length in the pediatric age group

D S Lubitz1, J S Seidel, L Chameides

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance 90509.

Annals of Emergency Medicine
|June 1, 1988
PubMed

Insights

The Broselow Tape accurately estimates pediatric weight and drug dosages in emergencies, proving more reliable than manual estimates by healthcare professionals. This tool simplifies emergency care for children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Medical Device Technology
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Accurate drug dosing in pediatric emergencies is critical for patient outcomes.
  • Traditional weight estimation methods can be inaccurate, leading to potential dosing errors.
  • The Broselow Tape offers a length-based estimation tool for pediatric weight and drug dosages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the accuracy of the Broselow Tape in estimating pediatric body weight.
  • To compare the Broselow Tape's accuracy against weight estimates made by healthcare professionals.
  • To assess the Broselow Tape's utility in facilitating appropriate drug dosing during emergencies.

Main Methods:

  • 937 children with known weights were measured using the Broselow Tape.
  • Weight estimates from the tape were compared against actual weights.
  • A separate group of 53 children had their weights estimated by the tape and by residents/nurses for comparison.

Main Results:

  • The Broselow Tape provided weight estimates within 15% of actual weight for 79% of children.
  • High accuracy was observed for children weighing 3.5-10 kg and 10-25 kg (slopes 0.98 and 0.96).
  • The tape was significantly more accurate than estimates by residents and pediatric nurses (P < .0001).

Conclusions:

  • The Broselow Tape is a simple and accurate method for estimating pediatric weights and drug doses.
  • Its use can eliminate the need for complex memorization and calculation in emergency settings.
  • The Broselow Tape improves the reliability of emergency drug administration in pediatric patients.

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