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Do Clothing Labels Play a Role for Weight Estimation in Pediatric Emergencies? A Prospective, Cross-Sectional Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2021

Adeviyye Karaca*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey
Kamil Can Akyol
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Krankenhaus Bad Oeynhausen, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany
Mustafa Keşaplı
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey
Faruk Güngör
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Private Life Hospital Emergency Department, Antalya, Turkey
Umut Cengiz Çakır
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey
Angelika Janitzky
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Krankenhaus Bad Oeynhausen, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany
Ramazan Güven
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Education and Research Hospital University of Health Science, İstanbul, Turkey
*
Correspondence: Adeviyye Karaca, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey, E-mail: ade.aksoy@gmail.com

Abstract

Introduction:

The aim of this study was to investigate the usability of the age value listed on the labels on children’s clothes in the age-based weight estimation method recommended by the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) guidelines.

Material-Method:

This prospective, cross-sectional study was organized in Antalya Training and Research Hospital Emergency Department. Children aged between 1-12 years were included in the study. The weight measurements of the children were obtained based on the age-related criteria on the labels of their clothes. The estimated values were compared with the real values of the cases measured on the scale.

Results:

One-thousand ninety-four cases were included, the mean age of cases in age-based measurements was 6.25 years, which was 6.5 years in label-based measurements. Average weights measured 25.75kg according to age-based measurements, 26.5kg according to label-based measurements, and 26.0kg on the scales, and showed no statistical difference (P <.0001). It was estimated that 741 (67.7%) of age-based measurements and 775 (70.8%) of label-based measurements were within (±)10% values within the normal measurement limits and no significant difference was measured.

Conclusion:

In the emergency department and prehospital setting, children with an unknown age and that need resuscitation and interventional procedures for stabilization, and have no time for weight estimation, checking the age on clothing label (ACL) instead of the actual age (AA) can be safely used for the age-dependent weight calculation formula recommended by the PALS guide.

Type
Original Research
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine

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