APPLICABILITY OF BROSELOW PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY TAPE PAEDIATRIC POPULATION OF SUB-URBAN PUDUCHERRY

P. Shivananda*, N. S. Raghupathy and Thumjaa Annamalai

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The accurate measurement of weight is important in clinical practice, more so in paediatric population where the growth trajectories are dynamic and different affecting the body weight. While measurement of weight of paediatric patients could be done easily in a healthy state, however, it is difficult in disease state, especially in emergency and critically ill patients. To overcome this several methods through which weight could be estimated without actually measuring it have been developed. Methodology: A total of 873 children aged 1-6 years (mean age 3.511.55 years) were recruited in the study, of these 493 (56.5%) were females. All the children were clinically examined and were subjected for measurement of Height and Weight using standard techniques. Thereafter the children enrolled in the study were subjected to weight estimation using Broselow‟s Tape. Results: Estimated weight by Broselow‟s tape also showed significant association with Age, Height and Actual weight. Strong correlations of Estimated weight with actual weight and Age of children were observed (r=0.860 & 0.871). In majority of the children over estimation of 1-25% of actual weight was observed (55.8%). Underestimation of actual weight was observed in 15.8%. Below 1% error in estimation of weight was observed in 17.9% children. Accuracy in estimation of weight was observed in higher proportion of children weighed ≥21 kg (67.4%) as compared to 11-20 kg (15.8%) and ≤10 kg (36.5%). Conclusion: Breslow tape was found to overestimate measured body weight by 1.44 kgs. Therefore when used should be cautioned and alarmed.

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