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Needle length for epinephrine prefilled syringes in children and adolescents: Is one inch needle appropriate?

BACKGROUND
Intramuscular epinephrine is the first line drug in the treatment of anaphylaxis. This study was to identify the appropriateness of 1 inch needle length for epinephrine prefilled syringes in children.


METHODS
Children aged 1 month to 18 years were enrolled. Skin to muscle depth (STMD) and skin to bone depth (STBD) were measured using an ultrasonography at the mid-anterolateral thigh. A 1 inch needle was considered as being appropriate if the STBD was more than 1 inch and the STMD was less than 1 inch.


RESULTS
Seventy five infants, 75 pre-school aged children, 75 school aged children and 147 adolescent were enrolled: 196 (52.7%) children were male. A 1 inch needle length was appropriate for 61% of the infants, for 88% of the preschool children, for 99% of the school aged children and for 95% of the adolescents. Thigh circumference ≥23 cm, BMI ≥16 kg/m2 and BW ≥ 6 kg in infants provided the sensitivity of 74%-96% in predicting the appropriateness of 1 inch needle. In preschool group, thigh circumference ≥25 cm, BMI ≥13.5 kg/m2 and BW ≥ 10 kg provided the sensitivity of 98.5-100% in predicting the appropriateness of 1 inch needle. Thigh circumference ≥ 49 cm in adolescents provided the sensitivity of 75% in predicting that a 1 inch needle was too short.


CONCLUSION
One inch needle length may not be appropriated for intramuscular injection at thigh in all children. Thigh circumference, BMI and body weight are useful for predictor for using the 1 inch needle.