This articleaddresses some therapeutic controversies concerning medications that may be neededduringadvancedpediatric life support(APLS) and the routesof administration that may be selected. The controversies that are discussedincludethe appropriateness and selection of variousroutesfor drug administration during APLS; the determination of whetherepinephrine hydrochloride is the adrenergic agentof choicefor APLS and its appropriate dose; treatment of acidosis associated with a cardiopulmonary arrest;recommendations for atropine sulfatedoses;and the role,if any, of calciumin APLS. Background information differentiating pediatricfrom adultcardiopulmonary arrestis presented to enablethe readerto have a betterunderstanding of the specific needsof childrenduring this life-threatening emergency. The articlealso presentsan overview of variousdrugs used for APLS and a table of their typically recommended doses and routes of administration. Pharmacother 1991;25:760-72. CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCE CARDIAC ARREST typically have a poor prognosis.v' Pediatric survival rates from cardiac arrests that occur in the prehospital setting average 7 percent (3 percent if arrests were unwitnessed and 15 percent if witnessed by paramedics).' Such figures are low when compared with an overall survival rate of 20 percent for adults who experienced cardiac arrests in a similar setting," From
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