Exam 4 - Peds, Gers, & Rx Writing Flashcards
Gestational Age
- Maturity at birth
- Based on dates (LMP) and PE
Postnatal Age
-Chronologic age of child after its born
Post conception age:
-Gestational age and post natal age
Preterm infant
< 37 weeks GA
Full-term infant
37-42 weeks GA
Post-term infant
> 43 weeks GA
Newborn or neonate
0 to 1 month of age
First month of life
Infant
1-12 month of age
Toddler
1 -2 years of age
Young child
2 - 5 years of age
Older child
6 - 12 years of age
Adolescent
13 - 17 years of age
Absorption
- Molecular weight
- Particle size
- pH and pKa
- Dosage form (Need to be able to tolerate).
Two major determinants of gastrointestinal absorption of drugs:
- Gastric acidity
- Gastric emptying time
Differ greatly between infants and adults
pH dependent passive diffusion:
-Nonpolar, lipophillic states are better absorbed
↑ pH in pre-term infant compared to term infants; not producing as much acid yet.
↑ Gastric acid production with ↑ GA (lowers pH - acidic).
Gastric pH: 6-8 in full-term infant for 1-3 days (amniotic fluid).
Highest acid: 1-10 days
Lowest acid: 10-30 days
Lower limit of adult values by 3 months!
Effects drug absorption: Acidic/Basic
Acidic drugs Increased ionization (more polar), which decreases absorption.
Basic drugs
Decreased ionization, will have increased absorption.
Gastrointestinal emptying time (GIT):
-GIT determines rate of absorption; much slower in infants less than 6 mos of age.
Congenital heart disease = ↓ blood flow = ↓ GIT.
Type of feeding
Gestational and postnatal age(more preterm = slower gastric emptying time).
How does a shorter gut in a neonate/infant affect absorption?
-Shorter transit time decreases duration of drug contact with absorptive surfaces!
- Extended release formulations are incompletely absorbed!
- Leads to serum concentration variations
Intramuscular Absorption
Often easier than IV access in infants/neonates.
Blood perfusion to the area of injection
Rate of drug penetration through the capillaries
Apparent volume into which the drug has been distributed
Neonates and infants differ from older children and adults:
- ↓ blood flow to muscles
- ↓ extent of muscular contractions
- ↓ rate of drug penetration
- ↑ percent of water in muscles (high apparent volume of distribution due to high body water)
- Peripheral vasomotor instability - Can’t regulate temperature well (blood flow is erratic).
Rectal absorption in infants/neonates:
- ↑ bioavailability of some medications (thin mucosa).
- ↑ mucosal translocation.
- Neonates/children have ↑ amplitude of rectal contractions
- Can cause suppositories to be pooped back out (re-dose if happens).
Intraosseus absorption in infants/neonates:
-Useful in emergent situations
- Performed by inserting an intraosseous needle into bone marrow
- Children have soft outer cortex of long bones with rich vascular bed of marrow
- Full drug absorption
- Easy administration - can do fluids, pressors, abx.
Percutaneous absorption in infants/neonates:
- Children have underdeveloped stratum corneum; the skin thickness is inversely related to absorption.
- Ex: Hypothyroidism from betadine (iodine).
- Skin is well hydrated with ↑ perfusion.
- Skin hydration directly proportional to absorption.
- Ratio of body surface area (BSA) to body mass is significantly ↑ compared with adults.
- May result in toxicity of topically applied drugs.
- Seizures and anticholinergic toxidromes from antihistamine lotions
- Hypoglycemia and lethargy from isopropanol baths
Volume of distribution (Vd)
- Relates amount of drug in body to serum concentration.
- Adipose tissue, lipophillic drug, has a large volume of distribution.
Vd = X0/C0
X0 = dose administered C0 = initial serum concentration
Hydrophillic - low volume of distribution, can’t distribute into fat, etc.