How much glucagon should be given intramuscularly to a pediatric patient weighing less than 20 kg when IV access is not available?

How much glucagon should be given intramuscularly to a pediatric patient weighing less than 20 kg when IV access is not available?

• A. 0.5 mg IM (<20 kg)
• B. 1 mg IM (>20 kg)
• C. 1.5 mg IM
• D. 0.25 mg IM

Answer: (A)

In this situation, dosing is based on the child’s weight when IV access isn’t available. For a pediatric patient weighing less than 20 kg, administer 0.5 mg of glucagon intramuscularly. Using the standard 1 mg/mL preparation, this is a 0.5 mL injection. This amount is enough to trigger hepatic glycogenolysis and raise blood glucose quickly while keeping the dose appropriate for a smaller child. If the child were 20 kg or more, the dose would be 1 mg IM. After giving glucagon, reassess glucose promptly and proceed with IV dextrose if IV access becomes available.

In this situation, dosing is based on the child’s weight when IV access isn’t available. For a pediatric patient weighing less than 20 kg, administer 0.5 mg of glucagon intramuscularly. Using the standard 1 mg/mL preparation, this is a 0.5 mL injection. This amount is enough to trigger hepatic glycogenolysis and raise blood glucose quickly while keeping the dose appropriate for a smaller child. If the child were 20 kg or more, the dose would be 1 mg IM. After giving glucagon, reassess glucose promptly and proceed with IV dextrose if IV access becomes available.