Calcium Chloride in Pediatrics

[wrmedic82]

Good Morning from Texas!!!!!!!!

I have been asking this question around alot and I seem to only get alot of speculation vs reason. With most medication when it comes to pediatrics, its been said that the pediatric dose should never exceed the adult dose. However in the case of calcium chloride in pediatrics the dose is 20mg/kg, however in adults its 2-4mg/kg. So what I am trying to figure out is why that is the case.

Ive heard alot of confusing reasons so whats everyones take on it.

[chbare]

Dose for what exactly? I am a little confused regarding what you are using Calcium Chloride for? When talking about giving 10% CaCl- to an acutely ill patient, you may expect to give much more than 2-4 mg. The standard concentration of your "amp" of CaCl- is typically 10%. This gives you 100 mg/ml of calcium. You are suggesting giving significantly less than 1 ml of CaCl-? I think you are getting your numbers crossed or perhaps confusing ml with mg?

Take care,

chbare.

[spenac]

Pedi dose is 20mg/kg over 5- 10 minutes

Adult dose is 500-1000mg over 5-10 minutes.

You must have misread or your books wrong.

[wrmedic82]

here is a link to another forum and again the answers are not clear http://forums.firehouse.com/showthread.php?t=43590

[fiznat]

Good Morning from Texas!!!!!!!!

I have been asking this question around alot and I seem to only get alot of speculation vs reason. With most medication when it comes to pediatrics, its been said that the pediatric dose should never exceed the adult dose. However in the case of calcium chloride in pediatrics the dose is 20mg, however in adults its 2-4mg. So what I am trying to figure out is why that is the case.

Ive heard alot of confusing reasons so whats everyones take on it.

For what condition are you talking about giving Calcium for?

[spenac]

here is a link to another forum and again the answers are not clear http://forums.firehouse.com/showthread.php?t=43590

First problem is that comes from firehouse not a medical power house there .

And actual dosages are in my previous post based on apple to apple treatments and the amounts you posted were wrong or were for apples to oranges treatments.

[wrmedic82]

Dose for what exactly? I am a little confused regarding what you are using Calcium Chloride for? When talking about giving 10% CaCl- to an acutely ill patient, you may expect to give much more than 2-4 mg. The standard concentration of your "amp" of CaCl- is typically 10%. This gives you 100 mg/ml of calcium. You are suggesting giving significantly less than 1 ml of CaCl-? I think you are getting your numbers crossed or perhaps confusing ml with mg?

Take care,

chbare.

The only thing I would think that you may need to give calcium chloride for is accidental calcium channel blocker overdose. Im sure that there are other condition that I will find as I research more. But that in the EMS setting is neither here nor there, we are not going to know that the patient is going to need it until lab work is done at the hospital. or in a whirlybird setting on a CC transfer.

[chbare]

What about hyperkalemia or magnesium sulfate toxicity among other problems? "Asking around allot" should include doing some actual foot work and researching yourself, never take anything said on public forums as gospel until you can verify what is said.

Take care,

chbare.

[wrmedic82]

What about hyperkalemia or magnesium sulfate toxicity among other problems? "Asking around allot" should include doing some actual foot work and researching yourself, never take anything said on public forums as gospel until you can verify what is said.

Take care,

chbare.

how are you going to even know other than seeing peaked t-waves on ECG or w/o a lab spread sheet produced by dialysis center or NH?

[chbare]

History and ECG findings. For example, a dialysis patient who missed a few sessions with a sine wave pattern. Obviously, respiratory depression and depressed DTR's on patients who are receiving mag sulfate.

Take care,

chbare.