Accuracy of the APLS formula, the APLS normal range method and the broselow paediatric tape in estimating the body weight of Malaysian children
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Date
2018
Authors
Wil, Fairuz Ramadanu Che
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Background:
Rapid establishment of children body weight is crucial for resuscitation as it enables
calculation of drug doses, amount of fluid to be administered, and amount of energy to
be applied. Actual weight is impractical to measure in a critically ill child. This study
aims to compare the accuracy of Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) formula,
APLS normal range table and the Broselow Paediatric Tape.
Methods:
Participant were selected from children from one to five point nine years old attending
the Accident and Emergency department and Paediatric follow up clinic in Hospital
University Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, and Paediatric and general clinics in Institut
Perubatan dan Pergigian Termaju, Penang. Demographic characteristics were obtained.
Weight and height of each child were measured using a calibrated scale and measuring
tape. Estimated weights were later determined by using the APLS formula, the APLS
table and the Broselow tape. The primary outcome was the accuracy within 10% of the
measured weight.
Results:
The number of children included in this study were 464. There were 239(51.5%) boys
and 225(48.5%) girls. All three methods overestimated the weight of the children with
the APLS formula overestimating 64.9%, the APLS table 61.4% and the Broselow tape62% of them. However, the Broselow tape is the most accurate tool with 33% of the
estimation within 10% of the actual weight, followed by the APLS table (29.5%) and
the APLS formula (26.5%). The Broselow tape overestimated the weight with a mean
difference of 14.79%(95% limits of agreement 47.1 to -17.5), the APLS table with
15.32%(95% limits of agreement 54.8 to -24.2) and the APLS formula with
17.48%(95% limits of agreement 59.4 to -24.4).
Conclusions:
The three methods consistently overestimated the weight. The Broselow tape appeared
to be the most accurate out of them. The more recent APLS group recommendation,
APLS table is more accurate than the APLS formula.
Description
Keywords
Body weight , Physiology