What is the epinephrine dose for pediatric cardiac arrest when IV/IO access is available?

• A. EPINEPHRINE 0.01 mg/kg IV/IO q3-5 min
• B. 0.1 mg/kg IV/IO q3-5 min
• C. 0.001 mg/kg IV/IO q3-5 min
• D. 1 mg/kg IV/IO q3-5 min

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how much epinephrine to give to a child during cardiac arrest when IV or IO access is available. The recommended dose is 0.01 mg/kg (10 micrograms per kilogram) given IV or IO, repeated every 3–5 minutes, using the 1:10,000 concentration.

This dose is effective for increasing coronary and cerebral perfusion during CPR by causing alpha-adrenergic vasoconstriction, which raises aortic diastolic pressure and improves blood flow to vital organs. Doses much higher than this would expose a child to unnecessary risk of hypertension, tachyarrhythmias, and myocardial ischemia, while doses lower than this may be ineffective at improving perfusion. Therefore, 0.01 mg/kg IV/IO every 3–5 minutes is the appropriate choice.