What is the pediatric fluid resuscitation volume?

What is the pediatric fluid resuscitation volume?

• A. Normal Saline: 1 L IV/IO
• B. Normal Saline: 20 ml/kg IV/IO
• C. D10: 5 ml/kg IV/IO
• D. Zofran: 0.1 mg/kg IV/IO/PO

Answer: (B)

In pediatric fluid resuscitation, the volume is driven by the child's weight using an isotonic crystalloid. The standard initial bolus is 20 mL per kilogram of normal saline (or another isotonic fluid) given IV or IO, with reassessment after the bolus and the option to repeat up to about 60 mL/kg total if the patient still shows signs of shock. This approach quickly expands the intravascular volume while staying proportional to the child's size. Fixed volumes like 1 liter don’t account for child weight and can lead to under- or over-resuscitation. Dextrose-containing solutions aren’t used for volume expansion in the acute resuscitation setting, and an antiemetic like Zofran doesn’t address fluid status.

In pediatric fluid resuscitation, the volume is driven by the child's weight using an isotonic crystalloid. The standard initial bolus is 20 mL per kilogram of normal saline (or another isotonic fluid) given IV or IO, with reassessment after the bolus and the option to repeat up to about 60 mL/kg total if the patient still shows signs of shock. This approach quickly expands the intravascular volume while staying proportional to the child's size.

Fixed volumes like 1 liter don’t account for child weight and can lead to under- or over-resuscitation. Dextrose-containing solutions aren’t used for volume expansion in the acute resuscitation setting, and an antiemetic like Zofran doesn’t address fluid status.