Use of Lactated Ringers Solution Compared With Normal Saline Is Associated With Shorter Length of Stay in Pediatric Acute Pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate lactated ringers (LR) versus normal saline (NS) in pediatric acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS: This retrospective study used Pediatric Health Information System database of primary AP patients, 2013 to 2017. RESULTS: The study included 1581 first time AP patients with exclusive use of a single fluid (111 LR, 1470 NS) for the first 48 hours. The LR cohort had a significantly shorter length of stay (P < 0.001) compared with NS. A multivariable logistic regression analysis suggests use of NS in the first 48 hours (after controlling for total parenteral nutrition, operation, and infection during the admission) had a significantly increased likelihood of requiring a hospitalization for 4 days or more compared with the LR group (odds ratio, 3.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.95-5.62). The overall cost was significantly less in the LR group. There was no statistical difference observed in risk factors for AP, intensive care transfer, organ dysfunction, or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This represents the first large data set analysis of LR versus NS in pediatric AP. The use of LR was associated with a shorter length of stay and reduced cost compared with NS. Future randomized trials will help determine the ideal fluid choice for pediatric AP.

Impact of balanced versus unbalanced fluid resuscitation on clinical outcomes in critically ill children: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Isotonic crystalloid fluid bolus therapy is used in critically ill children to restore or maintain hemodynamic stability. However, the ideal choice of crystalloid remains to be determined. The most easily available and most frequently used crystalloid is 0.9% saline, an unbalanced crystalloid, that has been associated with hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis and acute kidney injury (AKI). Balanced fluids such as Ringer's lactate (RL) were developed to be closer to the composition of serum. However, they are more expensive and less readily available than 0.9% saline. Few trials have found RL to be associated with more favorable outcomes, but pediatric data is limited and inconsistent. The objective of the present systematic review is to review existing literature to determine the effect of balanced versus unbalanced fluid bolus therapy on metabolic acidosis in critically ill children. METHODS: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines, we will conduct a systematic review to retrieve all controlled trials and observational studies comparing balanced and unbalanced resuscitative fluids in critically ill children from age 28 days to 18 years old in any resuscitation settings. Search strategy was developed in collaboration with an experienced clinical research librarian. The primary outcome is the incidence and/or time to resolution of metabolic acidosis. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of hyperchloremia, AKI, duration of renal replacement therapy, vasopressors, mechanical ventilation, total volume of rehydration needed per day, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and length of stay and mortality. Study screening, inclusion, data extraction, and assessment of risk of bias will be performed independently by two authors. We intend to perform a meta-analysis with studies that are compatible on the basis of population and outcomes. DISCUSSION: Isotonic crystalloid fluid bolus therapy is a ubiquitous treatment in resuscitation of critically ill pediatric patients and yet there is no clear recommendation to support the choice of balanced versus unbalanced fluid. The present review will summarize current available data in the literature and assess whether recommendations can be generated regarding the choice of crystalloids or otherwise identify knowledge gaps which will open the door to a large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Cohort Study of Albumin versus Lactated Ringer's for Postoperative Cardiac Surgery Fluid Resuscitation in the Intensive Care Unit.

PURPOSE: A new postcardiac surgery fluid resuscitation strategy was implemented in our cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU) to implement evidence-based practice. We transitioned from a primarily albumin fluid-based strategy to a lactated Ringer's fluid-based strategy. We sought to determine whether a new postoperative fluid resuscitation strategy significantly altered the fluid composition for postcardiac surgery patients and what effect that would have on fluid resuscitation costs. Secondary outcomes included various clinical parameters. METHODS: This was a retrospective, before-and-after cohort study of postcardiac surgery patients in an academic quaternary care intensive care unit (ICU) during two different 3-month time intervals. A total of 192 patients were studied: 108 pre-intervention and 84 post intervention. The intervention consisted of surveying stakeholders regarding potential concerns of reducing albumin use, an educational intervention addressing those concerns, and removing albumin from the routine postcardiac surgery ICU admission order set. RESULTS: In the post intervention time period, albumin use decreased significantly compared to pre-invention (p<0.01), and lactated Ringer's volume increased significantly (p<0.01). However, total volume administered for resuscitation was not significantly different pre- and post intervention (1129 ml vs. 1369 ml, p=0.136). There were a net-cost savings between the pre-intervention and post intervention period (3 mo) of $30,549.20, with the albumin reduction accounting for most of those savings. Secondary outcomes were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: An albumin fluid reduction strategy was successful in reducing the amount of albumin fluid used for postcardiac surgery patients and resulted in substantial cost savings.