Aim To study which weight estimate calculation used in paediatric resuscitation results in optimal drug dosing, the calculations comprising of the three new Advanced Paediatric and Life Support (APLS) age based formulae or the UK Resuscitation Council age based formula. Method Commonly used drugs used in paediatric resuscitation were selected and a literature search conducted for each drug's pharmacokinetic properties, concentrating on the volume of distribution derived from its hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties and their relationship to body composition. Estimates of Actual Body Weight (ABW) to Ideal Body Weight (IBW) compared and, ABW estimates were calculated using both UK Resuscitation Council and APLS formulae. Hydrophobic drugs have a higher volume of distribution than hydrophilic drugs as they distribute preferentially to Fat Mass (FM). The larger the volume of distribution, the higher the initial dose required to achieve therapeutic plasma concentrations. ABW estimates are a good indicator of volume of distribution for hydrophobic drugs as it correlates well with FM. IBW estimates may be a better indicator of volume of distribution than ABW for hydrophilic drugs, as it correlates better with Lean Body Mass. This highlights potential variation between ABW and IBW which may result in toxic or sub-therapeutic dosing. Abstract G303(P) Table 1 Hydrophilic Amphiphilic Hydrophobic Adrenaline Amiodarone Atropine Sodium Bicarbonate Verapamil Calcium Gluconate Lidocaine Isoprenaline Diazepam Flecanide Midazolam Adenosine Lorazepam Salbutamol Phenytoin Magnesium Sulphate Thiopentone Aminophylline Benzyl penicillin Ceftriaxone Paracetamol Sodium Nitroprusside Prednisolone Morphine Hydrocortisone Suxamethonium Dexamethasone Chlorpheniramine Ketamine Mannitol Furosemide Labetalol Epoprostenol Digoxin Results The new APLS formulae, gives higher estimates of expected weight for a wider age range. This may be a more accurate reflection of ABW, than the UK Resuscitation Council, due to an increasing prevalence of obesity in children. The UK Resuscitation Council's formula appears to result in a lower estimate of weight, which may relate more closely to IBW than ABW. Abstract G303(P) Figure 1 Abstract G303(P) Table 2 Age UK Resuscitation CouncilWeight (kg) = 2 × (age in years + 4)(For ages 1 year-10 years) APLS formulae1-12 months Weight (kg) = (0.5 × age in months) + 41-5 years Weight (kg) = (2 × age in years) + 86-12 years Weight (kg) = (3 × age in years) + 7(For ages 1 month-12 year) 1 months - 4.5 6 months - 7 11 months - 9.5 1 year 10 10 2 years 12 12 3 years 14 14 4 years 16 16 5 years 18 18 6 years 20 25 7 years 22 28 8 years 24 31 9 years 26 34 10 years 28 37 11 years - 40 12 years - 43 Conclusion The main drugs used in paediatric resuscitation are hydrophilic, thus the APLS formulae may result in too much being given. Therefore the UK Resuscitation Council's single formula may be preferred. In addition the single fo...

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Objectives To audit the documentation of allergy status on inpatient paediatric drug charts. To raise an awareness of the importance of this essential documentation when prescribing, pharmacist screening and administering drugs. Methods A 2007 NPSA report states that patients being given medicine to which they were known to be allergic accounted for 3.2% of all medication incidents reported; 33% of these resulted in harm and 5% in severe harm or death. 1 It follows that where allergy status is not documented, the risk of harm to the patient is higher and therefore Trust standards require that 100% of drug charts have the allergy status documented before any medicine is prescribed or administered. 2 3 Prospective data collection took place 1 day each week over a 10 week period from March 2010, and again from July 2011. Data were collected on Monday mornings before the pharmacist had been to the ward as it was assumed that the pharmacist would ensure 100% completion. Data were also collected relating to whether the chart had been seen at any point by a pharmacist. The new inpatient drug chart was launched at the end of 2010. It includes a cut out window on each page so that the allergy status can be seen on every page and the lines in the allergy box were removed to create more white space and counter the cluttered appearance of the previous drug chart. Feedback from the fi rst audit was presented at the departmental audit meeting on the 5th July 2010. All data were analysed using Microsoft Excel. Results 2010 results: 280 (80%) of 350 charts were seen over a 10 week period. Of these, 84 (30%) did not have the allergy status documented. Of the 280 charts analysed, 134 (48%) had been seen by a pharmacist and 8 (6%) of these still had no allergy status documented. 146 (52%) of charts had not yet been seen by a pharmacist and 37 (25%) of this group had no allergy status documented. Conclusion The standard of 100% was not met; even after pharmacist screening. Awareness needs to be raised concerning allergy status and documentation thereof. It should be an integral part of the prescribing and screening process to ensure safe delivery of medicines. It is hoped that the changes to the drug chart will have improved the documentation. REFERENCES

Many defects in high Tc superconducting films propagate from the substrate through to the film surface, disturbing the epitaxy at the interface and adversely affecting the physical properties of the film, particularly Jc. In this study the surface of Magnesium Oxide (100) single crystal substrates with different preparative treatments have been investigated using optical cathodoluminescence microscopy (CL), with a view to establishing its effect on the deposition of thin films of YBa2Cu3O7-δ superconductors.CL excitations due to mechanically and chemically induced defects in the MgO substrate crystals are observed by optical CL microscopy. Several pre-deposition treatments have been compared in this way to determine the best preparation route for the substrates. Jc measurements indicate that the substrate surface quality is an important parameter in the production of high quality thin films especially for the fabrication of devices.It is concluded that CL provides a powerful and rapid tool for MgO quality assessment before thin film deposition.