II. Approach: Formulas and General Rules (Children over 1 year old)
- Formulas (Systolic Blood Pressure)
- Median SBP = 90 mmHg + (2 x Age in years)
- Minimum SBP = 70 mmHg + (2 x Age in years)
- Rough Approximations
- Pulse or Heart Rate (HR)
- Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP)
- Infant SBP: 80
- Preschool SBP: 90
- Adolescent SBP: 100
- Respiratory Rate (RR)
- Infant RR: 40
- Preschool RR: 30
- Adolescent RR: 20
III. Indications: Rapid cardiopulmonary assessment (e.g. Pediatric Assessment Triangle)
- Systolic Blood Pressure is observed to drop 10 mm Hg
- Respiratory Rate >60
- Heart Rate outside ranges shown below
- Increased work of breathing
- Retractions
- Nasal Flaring
- Grunting
- Cyanosis or decreased Oxygen Saturation
- Altered LOC (irritability, lethargy)
- Seizures
- Fever with Petechiae
- Trauma
- Burns >10% of body surface area
IV. Evaluation: Age associated Vitals
- Term Newborn (3 kg)
- Temperature: 36.5 to 38.0 C (97.7 to 100.4 F)
- Mean arterial pressure (MAP): (Gestational age at birth) + (age in weeks)
- Example: An newborn at 38 weeks presents at 1 week of life, MAP = 39
- Blood Pressure:
- Birth: 75-95/37-55 mmHg
- Age 12 hours: 50-70 / 25-45 mmHg
- Age 96 hours: 60-90 / 20-60 mmHg
- Age 7 days: 74 +/- 22 mmHg (Systolic BP)
- Age 42 days: 96 +/- 20 mmHg (Systolic BP)
- Pulse: 80-200
- Respiratory Rate: 40-60
- Infant (6 months old)
- Blood Pressure: 87-105 / 53-66
- Pulse: 80-180
- Toddler (2 years old)
- Blood Pressure: 95-105/53-66
- Pulse: 80-180
- Respiratory Rate = 24
- School age (7 years old)
- Blood Pressure: 97-112 / 57-71
- Pulse: 60-160
- Adolescent (15 years old)
- Blood Pressure: 112-128 / 66-80
- Pulse: 60-160
- Respiratory Rate = 12
