Lactated Ringer with 1% dextrose: an appropriate solution for peri-operative fluid therapy in children

Peri-operative blood glucose, total protein, and electrolytes values were measured in children (3–120 months) scheduled for minor surgery and randomly assigned to three groups according to the type of fluids administered during anaesthesia: children of RL group (n= 27) received lactated Ringer, those of RLD1 group (n= 25), 1% dextrose in lactated Ringer, and those in RLD2.5 group (n= 27), 2.5% dextrose in 0.4 N saline (50% D5, 50% RL) (63 mmol·l^-1). Infusion rate was set according to children's age and weight. Fluids were infused throughout the study with volumetric infusion pumps. Blood samples were obtained at induction (T0), at the end of surgery (T1), 30 and 60 min later (T2, T3). Pre-operative blood values were within the normal ranges except for high total protein values in all groups of children and for asymptomatic hypoglycaemia (2.3 and 2.5 mmol·l^-1) in two children. Blood glucose increased significantly in the three groups post-operatively (P < 0.001), and this increase was related to the amount of glucose infused. Glucose values differed significantly between groups at T1 and T2, while blood glucose values were back to the normal ranges at T2 and T3 in the RL group. Sodium values remained unchanged post-operatively in both RL and RLD1 groups, while a significant decrease was observed in the RLD2.5 group (P < 0.001). Total protein decreased in the three groups post-operatively (P < 0.001) towards normal values. These data suggest that RLD1 is appropriate for peri-operative fluid therapy in children. Its administration at the infusion rate used in this study, resulted in moderate post-operative hyperglycaemia while avoiding the risk of peri-operative hypoglycaemia, maintaining a constant extracellular fluid composition and correcting pre-operative fluid deficit.