Objective:To assess the accuracy of paramedic estimates of adult body weights in cardiac arrest cases.Hypothesis:Paramedics could accurately estimate the weights of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.Design:Retrospective data analysis of a 15-month, multicenter study involving nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. Paramedic estimates of body weights were compared to weights measured in the hospital. Patients were included in the analysis only if both a paramedic weight and a measured in-hospital weight were recorded.Setting:Six urban emergency medical services systems.Participants:The study population included adults with return of spontaneous circulation who subsequently were admitted to the hospital.Measurements:Pearson correlation analysis of paramedic-estimated weights and measured weights.Results:Among the 133 study patients, the correlation coefficient (R) for paramedic estimates and the actual measured weight was 0.93. Paramedic estimates of weight were within 10% of the measured weights in 74% of the patients, and within 20% of measured weights in 93% of the patients.Conclusion:Paramedic weight estimates correlated well with measured weights.

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of paramedic estimates of adult body weights in cardiac arrest cases. Methods: This study was a retrospective data analysis of a 15month, multicenter study involving non-traumatic, out-of-hospital, cardiac arrest patients. Paramedic estimates of body weights were compared to weights measured in the hospital. Patients were included in the analysis only if both a paramedic weight and a measured in-hospital weight were recorded. The study population included 133 adults with return of spontaneous circulation who subsequently were admitted to the hospital. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to compare paramedic-estimated weights and measured weights. Results: Among the 133 study patients, the correlation coefficient for paramedic estimates and the actual measured weight was 0.865. Paramedic estimates of weight were within 10% of the measured weights in 74% of the patients, and within 20% of measured weights in 93% of the patients. Subgroup analysis by gender and weight category (<150 pounds and greater than 150 pounds) demonstrated no clinically significant differences in the ability of paramedics to estimate body weight. Conclusion: Paramedic weight estimates correlated well with measured weights. Therapeutic decisions utilizing paramedicestimated weights should not result in significant dosing errors of pharmacologic agents used in adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

No abstract