What concentration of epinephrine is used for IV/IO dosing in pediatric arrest?

• A. 1:10,000
• B. 1:1000
• C. 1:100000
• D. 1:100

Answer: (A)

In pediatric arrest, the IV/IO dose of epinephrine is given using the 1:10,000 concentration. This dilution translates to 0.1 mg/mL, allowing the standard dose of 0.01 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 1 mg per dose) to be delivered in a practical, small injection volume. For example, a 10 kg child needs 0.1 mg, which is 1 mL of 1:10,000 solution; a 20 kg child needs 0.2 mg, which is 2 mL. The other concentrations are used in different scenarios: 1:1000 is typically for intramuscular use (like in anaphylaxis) and would deliver too large a dose if given IV/IO; 1:100000 and 1:100 are not appropriate for IV/IO resuscitation due to being either too dilute or too concentrated, respectively. So, 1:10,000 is chosen to provide the correct, safe IV/IO dose during pediatric CPR.