Question

3 yo, unresponsive, apneic

receiving CPR with bag-mask ventilation

A biphasic manual defibrillator is present. You quickly use the length from head to of the child on a color-coded length-based resuscitation tape to estimate the approximate weight as 15kg.

Which therapy is most appropriate for this child at this time?

Answer 1

The appropriate therapy for the unresponsive and apneic 3-year-old child receiving CPR is to continue high-quality CPR and use an AED if available. The initial defibrillation dose should be 2 J/kg, following up to 4 J/kg for subsequent shocks if needed.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the case of the 3-year-old child who is unresponsive and apneic and receiving CPR with bag-mask ventilation, the best course of action would be to continue high-quality CPR. If the patient is in cardiac arrest, the use of a defibrillator is essential. Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are accessible in many public places and are designed to be user-friendly so that even laypersons can use them effectively. They provide verbal instructions for use and can automatically determine the heart rhythm and apply a shock at the appropriate energy and waveform. CPR should be sustained until the child shows signs of recovery or until a healthcare professional determines the next steps. For a pediatric patient like the one described, the initial defibrillation dose should be 2 J/kg, followed by up to 4 J/kg for subsequent shocks if needed.