In the Push Dose Epinephrine protocol for pediatric shock, to what systolic blood pressure should you titrate?

In the Push Dose Epinephrine protocol for pediatric shock, to what systolic blood pressure should you titrate?

• A. SBP > 90 mmHg
• B. SBP > 60 mmHg
• C. SBP > 70 mmHg + 2 x age
• D. SBP > 100 mmHg

Answer: (C)

In pediatric resuscitation, perfusion targets are age-based to reflect how blood pressure rises with growth. The protocol for push-dose epinephrine uses an SBP threshold that changes with age: keep the systolic blood pressure above 70 plus twice the child’s age in years. This anchors the titration to the child’s developmental level, so the dose is increased until perfusion pressure is adequate for that specific age. For example, a 1-year-old would have a target SBP above 72 mmHg, a 5-year-old above 80 mmHg, and a 10-year-old above 90 mmHg. Fixed numbers like 60, 90, or 100 mmHg don’t adapt to age and aren’t appropriate endpoints in this protocol.

In pediatric resuscitation, perfusion targets are age-based to reflect how blood pressure rises with growth. The protocol for push-dose epinephrine uses an SBP threshold that changes with age: keep the systolic blood pressure above 70 plus twice the child’s age in years. This anchors the titration to the child’s developmental level, so the dose is increased until perfusion pressure is adequate for that specific age.

For example, a 1-year-old would have a target SBP above 72 mmHg, a 5-year-old above 80 mmHg, and a 10-year-old above 90 mmHg. Fixed numbers like 60, 90, or 100 mmHg don’t adapt to age and aren’t appropriate endpoints in this protocol.