Epinephrine concentration to administer via endotracheal tube during resuscitation is?

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

Answer: (A)

When giving epinephrine through the endotracheal tube during CPR, the drug is prepared at a 1:10,000 concentration. This dilution is chosen because absorption through the airway mucosa is unpredictable and can be inconsistent, so using the standard 1:10,000 solution provides a reliable systemic effect once it is absorbed, typically with a weight-based dose (about 0.1 mg/kg) delivered in a small amount of saline. This concentration aligns with resuscitation guidelines to ensure efficacy while avoiding excessive local irritation or overly rapid adrenergic effects.

Other concentrations are not used for endotracheal administration in resuscitation because they would either be too concentrated, increasing the risk of aggressive cardiovascular side effects, or too dilute to achieve the necessary systemic response.