Intravenous isotonic fluids induced a positive trend in natraemia in children admitted to a general paediatric ward.

AIM: Using hypotonic intravenous solutions for baseline fluid needs in paediatric patients on a nil by mouth diet may cause serious complications, including hyponatraemia, cerebral oedema and even death. We analysed the evolution of natraemia and explored any adverse effects on children treated with intravenous isotonic fluids. METHODS: This was a prospective study of 50 patients consecutively admitted to a general paediatric ward who were treated with isotonic intravenous fluids and on a nil by mouth diet. RESULTS: The most prevalent diagnosis was acute gastroenteritis (64%). Hyponatraemia, defined as sodium in plasma of <135 mEq/L, affected 22% of the subjects, but none displayed this during the first postadmission analysis at a median of eight hours. Sodium levels changed by an average of +0.64 mEq/L/hour. The subgroup analysis (0.91 versus 0.56 mEq/L/hour, p = 0.02) and multiple linear regression (R(2) = 0.756) showed a greater increase in sodium when patients had hyponatraemia on admission. Iatrogenic hyponatraemia was not detected, but two patients showed mild hypernatraemia and 35% developed clinically insignificant hyperchloraemia. CONCLUSION: Using intravenous isotonic fluids induced a positive trend in natraemia on a general paediatric ward, particularly if patients were hyponatraemic when admitted, and did not induce clinically relevant adverse effects.

Early-onset sepsis: a cohort study comparing serial clinical observation with laboratory testing.

OBJECTIVE: Early onset sepsis (EOS) remains a serious and potentially fatal illness. We aimed to demonstrate that serial clinical observation (SCO) is a feasible strategy associated with fewer laboratory evaluations and unnecessary antibiotic use. STUDY DESIGN: We compared the admissions and antibiotic therapy in neonates ≥35 weeks' gestation at risk for EOS in a prospective cohort after the implementation of a new protocol based on SCO (n = 381) with a historical cohort which received laboratory testing (n = 417). RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in admissions for suspected sepsis (7.2% vs 2.9%, p = 0.006) and the use of antibiotics (6.1% vs 0.7%, p = 0.000) in the cohort based on SCO. There was no delay in diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: SCO in neonates ≥35 weeks' gestation at risk for EOS, including chorioamnionitis-exposed infants, is a feasible measure that reduces laboratory evaluations and the overuse of antibiotics respecting the bonding mother-infant.

Sodium concentration in rehydration fluids for children with ketoacidotic diabetes: effect on serum sodium concentration.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze in a retrospective cohort if sodium concentration in the rehydration fluids influence natremia in children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). STUDY DESIGN: Consecutive episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis admitted in a tertiary care referral center from 2000 to 2005. Rehydration was programmed for 48 hours with a 2-bag system. Initial rehydration was performed with isotonic fluids and thereafter with variable tonicity. Analysis of the influence of the different factors on natremia was performed with a multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Forty-two episodes of DKA were reviewed. Increased sodium content in rehydration fluids behaved as an independent variable, causing a positive tendency of natremia (P < .008). CONCLUSIONS: Sodium concentration in the rehydration fluids behaves as an independent factor that influences positively the trend of the serum concentration of sodium during DKA rehydration. We propose the use of isotonic solutions for rehydration in diabetic ketoacidosis.