Isotonic vs Hypotonic IV Fluids in Children
Author Information
Author(s): Saba Thomas, Fairbairn James, Houghton Fiona, Laforte Diane, Foster Bethany J
Primary Institution: Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University
Hypothesis
Serum sodium would fall among children receiving 0.45% saline and remain stable or increase among children receiving isotonic fluids.
Conclusion
0.45% saline did not result in a drop in serum sodium during the first 12 hours of fluid therapy in children without severe baseline hyponatremia.
Supporting Evidence
- The rate of change in serum sodium was significantly different from zero only for the 0.9% saline group.
- Most children receiving 0.45% saline did not experience a drop in sodium levels.
- The study included both medical and surgical patients, providing a diverse population.
Takeaway
This study looked at two types of IV fluids for kids in the hospital. It found that one type didn't lower sodium levels, which is good.
Methodology
This was a masked controlled trial with randomization stratified by admission type, comparing 0.45% and 0.9% saline in 5% dextrose.
Potential Biases
Exclusion of children with baseline sodium levels outside the normal range may have biased results.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and a high dropout rate, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 3 months to 18 years, including medical and surgical patients.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02
Confidence Interval
[0.03, 0.4]
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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