Parenteral Fluid Research Articles

Stability and compatibility of admixtures containing bupivacaine hydrochloride and ketorolac tromethamine for parenteral use

ObjectiveBupivacaine hydrochloride (BH) and ketorolac tromethamine (KT) are commonly used in parenteral admixtures to manage postoperative pain. However, stability and compatibility data for these admixtures applicable to current practice are...

Fluid Intake in the First Week of Life and the Duration of Hemodynamically Significant Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Extremely Preterm Infants

This study aimed to determine the association between daily fluid intake and the duration of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA). This is a retrospective cohort study of extremely preterm infants (<29 weeks) admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Advent Health for Children from January 2013 to March 2016, if hsPDA was diagnosed in first week of life and serial echocardiograms were available. Diagnosis of hsPDA was based on a scoring system and its duration was estimated from serial echocardiograms. Cohort was divided into two groups based on duration of hsPDA (<1week, group A and ≥1 week, group B). Daily fluid intake was categorized as prescribed and actual. Prescribed volume was ordered by clinicians based on birth weight, not including trophic feeds, intravenous (IV) boluses or transfusions, etc. Actual intake was calculated by the electronic medical records based on daily weights and included all enteral or parenteral fluids. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine an association between total daily fluid intake over the first week of life and the duration of hsPDA. Two groups were compared to observe the difference between prescribed and actual daily fluid intakes. We enrolled 50 infants in group A and 76 in group B. Infants in group B were of significantly lower gestation and required prolonged ventilation and hospitalization. An association between higher fluid intake in the first 2 days of life and prolonged duration of hsPDA was confirmed by multivariate analysis. Actual fluid intake was significantly higher than prescribed total fluid intake in first 4 days of life for infants in both groups. In extremely preterm infants, higher fluid intake in first 2 days of life is associated with prolonged duration of hsPDA. Actual daily fluid intake can be significantly higher than prescribed daily fluids due to daily weight changes and additional fluid administration. · In preterm infants, actual daily fluid intake may be higher than prescribed volume.. · Higher daily fluid intake in first week of life is associated with prolonged duration of PDA.. · PDA scoring system can be helpful for objective assessment of PDA in preterm infants..

Effect of Gall Bladder Retrieval via Epigestric Vs Umbilical Port in Laparoscopic Cholectystectomy

Background and Aim: The retrieval of the gallbladder is a key event in laparoscopic cholecystectomy and significantly contributes to postoperative infections and pain. The GB is extracted through an umbilical or epigastric port. The goal of this single-center study was to compare GB retrieval via epigastric versus umbilical port in terms of postoperative site pain and infections. Materials and Methods:In this single-center study, 60 Cholelithiasis patients under went laparoscopic cholectystectomy (LC) for symptomatic gallbladder disease during the period from November 2020 to April 2021 at surgery department of Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences, Gambat Sindh Pakistan. The patients were selected out of the operating room for GB retrieval via umbilical port (Group-I with n = 30) versus epigastric port (Group-II with n = 30) randomly.All 60 patients had routine blood tests such as CBC, SGOT, SGPT, PT, and urine examinations. Until their bowels recovered, all of the patients were kept nil by mouth and on parenteral fluids. They were closely monitored in the post-operative period, with special attention paid to recording the pulse rate, temperature, and level of pain on a 24-hour basis. Results:Chronic Cholecystitis patients chosen randomly from the cholecystectomy list to have their gallbladder delivered through an umbilical or epigastric port.Group I had median pain (IQR) of 5 (1.5), 4 (1), and 2 (1) when compared to group II's median pain (IQR) of 4 (1), 2 (1), and 1 (0.5) one day after the procedure (p-value=0.001), at the time of hospital discharge (p-value0.001), and one month post-surgery (p-value0.001).In group B, there was a clear regression in postoperative pain from the day of surgery until a month later (p-value0.001). Conclusion:According to our findings, umbilical ports are preferable to epigastric ports in terms of post-operative pain, but there is an increased port site infection and hernia risk. Keywords:Cholecystectomy, Umbilical port, Epigastric port, Gall bladder retrieval, Laparoscopic.

Stability and Compatibility Aspects of Drugs: The Case of Selected Cephalosporins.

Intravenous drug incompatibilities are a common cause of medical errors, contributing to ineffective therapy and even life-threatening events. The co-administration of drugs must always be supported by studies confirming compatibility and thus guarantee the therapy’s safety. Particular attention should be paid to the possible incompatibilities or degradation of intravenous cephalosporins in different infusion regimens since the administration of drugs with inadequate quality may cause treatment failure. Therefore, an appropriate stability test should be performed. The study aimed to present various aspects of the stability and compatibility of five cephalosporins: cefepime (CFE), cefuroxime (CFU), ceftriaxone (CFX), ceftazidime (CFZ), and cefazoline (CFL). The degradation studies in parenteral infusion fluids and PN admixtures were conducted for CFE and CFU. The interactions between CFX or CFZ and PN admixtures, as well as the compatibility of CFL with five commercial parenteral nutrition (PN) admixtures, were investigated. The content of CFX and CFZ in PN admixture after 24 h was >90%. CFL administered simultaneously with PN admixture by the same infusion set using Y-site was compatible only with Nutriflex Lipid Special. CFE and CFU were stable in all tested infusion fluids for a minimum of 48 h and decomposed in PN admixtures during storage.

Reversal of end-ileostomy in patients with Crohn's disease.

End-ileostomy after two-staged ileocolic resection is frequently performed in Crohn's disease patients at high risk for postoperative complications. However, there is paucity on data regarding the morbidity after the stoma reversal. One hundred thirty patients undergoing closure of end-ileostomy between 1994 and 2016 were included. Data collection was retrospective in 11 first, and it was prospective in 119 last patients. Anastomotic complications were defined as anastomotic leak, perianastomotic abscess, and perianastomotic peritonitis. The median interval between ileostomy construction and reversal was 4.0months. Ninety-seven of 121 patients with available data (80%) gained weight between both surgeries. Hemoglobin level increased between surgeries in 107 patients (85%). Fifteen patients (11.5%) received parenteral fluid substitution or parenteral nutrition between both surgeries. There were 37 hospital readmissions during the time between stoma construction and reversal (29%). After ileostomy reversal, 14 patients developed anastomotic complications (11%). By multivariate regression analysis, preoperative steroid intake (hazard ratio 4.5, 95% CI: 1.11-18.0, p= 0.035) and hospital readmission for infectious complications (HR 4.5, 95% CI: 1.11-18.0, p = 0.035) were statistically significantly associated with an increased risk to develop postoperative anastomotic complications. There were no postoperative deaths. Closure of end-ileostomy could be complicated by some serious morbidity. These risks should be taken into consideration weighing carefully between the one- and two-stage ileocolic resection in Crohn's disease patients.

Effectiveness and Safety of Hypodermoclysis Patients With Cancer: A Single-Center Experience From Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Decreased intake of food or fluid causes dehydration in hospitalized adult patients. This has led to a negative impact on patients and increased the morbidity and mortality rate at the Princess Noorah Oncology Center, where patients with advanced cancer who suffer from dehydration have been treated with parenteral fluids until the date of discharge from the hospital.Objective: The objective of this pilot study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of hypodermoclysis (HDC) to close the gap of treatment for home-based palliative patients with cancer.Method: During home visits, the home health care (HHC) nurse assessed these patients through history and physical examination for dehydration. Our team also incorporated the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System revised (ESAS-r) Scale in the assessment of these patients' symptoms. Informed consent has been obtained from the patient and the caregiver. The trained nurses initiated the subcutaneous infusion. The caregivers monitored it and disconnected it when completed. The study population consists of palliative patients with advanced cancer under the services of palliative care. Effectiveness and safety have been assessed using the ESAS-r scale.Results: A total of 25 (92.6%) HDC treatments were successfully completed for nine patients (seven males and two females). One female patient had only one session because her health had deteriorated for reasons other than dehydration and was transferred to the hospital. No serious side effects were observed. One (3.6%) patient developed redness at the site of cannula insertion. The mean duration of the infusions was 8.44 hours. The median age was 70 years.Conclusion: This study has concluded that HDC is effective, safe, and can enhance the patient’s comfort level without the need for hospitalization. The fact that HDC can be administered at home with minimum equipment and technical support makes it an ideal option in several countries with varied income settings.

Innovation of Distal Refeeding in Infants.

Background: Temporary diverting enterostomy might be the initial step while treating gastrointestinal disorders in infants. According to the level of the stoma, calorie, fluid, and electrolyte imbalance might occur. Totally parenteral nutrition (TPN), parenteral fluid, and electrolyte balancing are the choice of support. Owing to limitations of both, distal refeeding (DR) has been suggested as an alternative. However, in English literature, there is no recommended technique for how DR should apply. This article is aimed at evaluating our innovative DR approach, which was not reported earlier. Materials and Methods: Between 2015 and 2019, patients on whom DR was performed by a cuffed silicon-based tunneled catheter were obtained. Results: A total of 8 patients aged between 1 day and 7.5 years were included. Dislocation of the catheter and skin erosion were the minor complications that were observed. None of them necessitated TPN and vascular access. Moreover, patients could be discharged and were fully fed orally by their guardian at home, and any problem was observed during survival. Conclusion: Consequently, patients did not necessitate vascular access or TPN. They were all fully fed orally, and DR could be performed without a failure to thrive. Therefore, we believe that tunneled catheter DR is a safe and reliable method in infants. Institutional Review Board at Eskisehir Osmangazi University (Protocol no. 07/01/2020-26).

Fluid warming with parylene-coated enFlow cartridge: Bench and pilot animal study of aluminum extraction due to prolonged use.

Objectives:Intravenous fluid warming devices with surface heating systems transfer heat using aluminum blocks, which if uncoated elute toxic levels of aluminum into the infusate. This study examined extractable aluminum detected from prolonged use of the updated version of the enFlow® cartridge, which uses a parylene-coated aluminum heating block.Methods:In dynamic bench tests, we measured the concentration of aluminum that leached into three solutions (Sterofundin ISO, Plasma-Lyte 148, and whole blood) that were continuously pumped (0.2 and 5.5 mL min−1) and warmed to 40°C by the enFlow cartridge (parylene-coated) for 5 h. Prolonged quasi-static bench tests measured aluminum concentration in 16 solutions which were gently rocked within the enFlow cartridge (parylene-coated) for 72 h at 40°C. Aluminum concentrations were measured using inductively coupled mass spectroscopy and matrix blank corrected. Measured aluminum concentrations were compared to a Tolerable Exposure limit to calculate Margins of Safety based on the US Food and Drug Administration maximum recommended concentration in parenteral fluids (25 μg L−1). A parallel pilot in vivo animal study was performed using mice injected with fluids warmed for 72 h by the enFlow cartridge (parylene-coated).Results:The enFlow cartridge (parylene-coated) demonstrated low toxicological risks in all tests. Sterofundin ISO resulted in the highest aluminum concentration after simulated prolonged use of the enFlow cartridge (parylene-coated) (3.11 μg device−1), which represents a 99.2% decrease from the enFlow cartridge (uncoated) and Margin of Safety of 1.7. Dynamic tests at two different flow rates with three challenge solutions resulted in concentrations less than the method detection limits (20.6 or 41.2 μg L−1) of the analysis method. The animals in the in vivo study showed no evidence of toxicity.Conclusion:Observed toxicological risk levels associated with the enFlow cartridge (parylene-coated) intravenous fluid warmer were below those set by the Food and Drug Administration and suggest that the use of enFlow cartridge (parylene-coated) is safe with a variety of intravenous solution types and in different therapeutic scenarios.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Looking Beyond Pregnancy

Hyperemesis gravidarum is defined variably as vomiting being sufficiently severe enough to produce weight loss, dehydration, ketosis, alkalosis from loss of hydrochloric acid and hypokalemia. It is not common for a patient affected with hyperemesis gravidarum to present with idiopathic acute pancreatitis in the same time period. This case pertains to a 22-year-old pregnant woman, admitted to our hospital with complaint of severe and frequent episodes of vomiting and severe epigastric pain at 14 weeks of gestation. After treatment with parenteral fluid and antiemetics, the patient’s condition failed to improve. Further investigations confirmed a diagnosis of idiopathic acute pancreatitis. Patient was managed conservatively. Early and rapid diagnosis and supportive treatment play a vital role in the management of such cases.

Fluidoterapia y electrolitos parenterales en pediatría

La administración de líquidos y electrolitos parenterales es una terapia fundamental de soporte en niños agudamente enfermos si la vía oral no permite la administración de la cantidad o composición requeridas de fluidos, por ejemplo en enfermedades de tipo gastrointestinal, respiratorio, neurológico, o en el período transoperatorio. Al momento de planificar la administración de líquidos y electrolitos parenterales en niños a partir del mes de edad, se debe considerar componentes relacionados con la cantidad de líquidos a infundir considerando los requerimientos secundarios a pérdidas hídricas habituales o requerimientos para reacciones metabólicas, evaluar el grado de deshidratación para la administración de líquidos que complementen el déficit, corregir las pérdidas que se han producido secundarios a una noxa externa (enfermedad, procedimiento quirúrgico, trauma, etc.) y finalmente aportar la cantidad adecuada de fluido que permita re-establecer la perfusión tisular. Es necesario conocer los cambios instaurados basados en la evidencia actual con la finalidad de incorporar a el manejo frecuente de los pacientes considerando también la toxicidad ya sean cualitativos o cuantitativos de esta terapéutica tan necesaria en el manejo del paciente pediátrico.

The novel use of the Haemodialysis reliable outflow graft (HeRo®) in intestinal failure patients with end-stage vascular access

Intestinal failure (IF) patients are dependent on central venous access to receive parenteral nutrition. Longstanding central venous catheters are associated with life-threatening complications including infections and thromboses resulting in multiple line exchanges and the development ofprogressive central venous stenosis or occlusion. The Haemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) graft is an arterio-venous device that has been successfully used in haemodialysis patients with ‘end-stage vascular access’. We describe a case series of HeRO graft use in patients with IF and end-stage vascular access. Four HeRO grafts were inserted into IF patients with end-stage vascular access to facilitate or support intestinal transplantation. In all patients the HeRO facilitated immediate vascular access, supporting different combinations of parenteral nutrition, intravenous medications, fluids or renal replacement therapy with no bloodstream infections. In a highly complex group of IF patients with central venous stenosis/occlusion limiting conventional venous access or at risk of life-threatening catheter-related complications, a HeRO® graft can be a feasible alternative.

Nursing Management for Terminal Cancer Patients Undergoing Parenteral Fluids

Abstract Background: Parenteral hydration improves symptoms associated with dehydration and has an effect on quality of life and survival among the patients with advanced cancer. Aim; to evaluate the effect of nursing management on manifestations of patients with terminal cancer undergoing parenteral fluid. Research design: This study was a quazi experimental research design. Sample: sixty convenience adult patients with terminal cancer undergoing parenteral fluid, their age ranged between (20- 65) from both sexes. Setting: The study was conducted in Internal Medical Oncology Department at South Egypt Cancer Institute Tools: Two tools were used: Tool (I): Structured an interview questionnaire for patients: included demographic and medical data. Tool (II): Patient's manifestation assessment included (physical and psychological assessment) Results: Revealed that the highest percentage for both groups their age ranged from (>50 to 65) years old. All of them were married, and half of them (50%) were illiterate, there was a statistical significant difference between both groups regarding physical and psychological manifestations for patients. Conclusion: Nursing management was effective in fewer physical and psychological manifestations of patients with terminal cancer undergoing parenteral fluid. Recommendation: Studying the factors that affect palliative management of patients with terminal cancer undergoing parenteral fluid

Perioperative nutrition in extremely preterm infants undergoing surgery for patent ductus arteriosus

Summary Background and aims Patent ductus arteriosus is a common neonatal morbidity affecting more than half of infants born extremely preterm. Suboptimal nutrition in extremely preterm infants in general has been demonstrated in recent studies. The aim of this study was to describe perioperative nutritional practices in Swedish neonatal intensive care units caring for extremely preterm infants undergoing surgery for patent ductus arteriosus. Methods Daily enteral and parenteral nutritional intakes during the perioperative week starting three days prior and ending three days after surgery were retrospectively evaluated in five University hospitals caring for infants born Results In total, 132 infants and data from 912 perioperative days were included. Mean daily energy intakes during the perioperative week (range 78–105 kcal/kg/day) varied significantly between hospitals, with the lowest intakes on the day of surgery (range 54–87 kcal/kg/day). Mean daily protein intakes during the perioperative week did not vary (range 2.3–2.6 g/kg/day) but did differ on the day of surgery (range 1.5–2.4 g/kg/day). Median parenteral (range 33–99 mL/kg/day) and enteral (range 34–123 mL/kg/day) fluid intakes during the perioperative week, as well as median parenteral contents of energy and protein, varied significantly between hospitals. Conclusions Current recommended nutritional goals for extremely preterm infants were not met in the studied neonatal intensive care units. Suboptimal nutrition may have implications for short and long-term outcomes. Improved adherence to nutritional guidelines is warranted for these patients.

Glucose concentrations in enterally fed preterm infants.

Determine the prevalence of glucose concentrations below the Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES) term and late preterm-focused guideline target for mean glucose concentrations (≥70 mg/dL) among preterm NICU infants on full enteral nutrition and assess the impact on monitoring practices. Retrospective cohort study. We analyzed 1717 infants who were at least 2 days old and 48 hours after parenteral fluids were discontinued. Glucose concentrations were ≥70, 60-69, 50-59, and <50 mg/dL in 76.6, 16.2, 5.9, and 1.3% of measurements, respectively. In multivariate models, concentrations <60 mg/dL were common among male infants at lower postnatal age, small-for-gestational age, and born to women with hypertension (p < 0.05). After PES guideline, infants were more likely to have >3 glucose measurements (p < 0.05). Glucose concentrations <70 mg/dL are not uncommon among preterm infants receiving full enteral nutrition. Monitoring increased after guideline publication. Applying PES threshold to well-appearing preterm infants may promote increased monitoring and intervention without clear long-term benefit.

Serum choline in extremely preterm infants declines with increasing parenteral nutrition

PurposeCholine is an essential nutrient for fetal and infant growth and development. Parenteral nutrition used in neonatal care lack free choline but contain small amounts of lipid-bound choline in the form of phosphatidylcholine (PC). Here, we examined the longitudinal development of serum free choline and metabolically related compounds betaine and methionine in extremely preterm infants and how the concentrations were affected by the proportion of parenteral fluids the infants received during the first 28 postnatal days (PNDs).MethodsThis prospective study included 87 infants born at gestational age (GA) < 28 weeks. Infant serum samples were collected PND 1, 7, 14, and 28, and at postmenstrual age (PMA) 32, 36, and 40 weeks. The serum concentrations of free choline, betaine, and methionine were determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy.ResultsThe median (25th–75th percentile) serum concentrations of free choline, betaine, and methionine were 33.7 (26.2–41.2), 71.2 (53.2–100.8), and 25.6 (16.4–35.3) µM, respectively, at PND 1. The choline concentration decreased rapidly between PND one and PND seven [18.4 (14.1–26.4) µM], and then increased over the next 90 days, though never reaching PND one levels. There was a negative correlation between a high intake of parenteral fluids and serum-free choline.ConclusionCirculating free choline in extremely preterm infants is negatively affected by the proportion of parenteral fluids administered.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02760472, April 29, 2016, retrospectively registered.

Parenteral Fluid Therapy in Children

Parenteral fluids are commonly administered in the hospital setting. For decades, clinicians have used a standardized approach for the prescription of maintenance IV fluids. Such an approach, however, has led to concerns regarding the development of hyponatremia using hypotonic fluids, especially in settings of heightened ADH release such as hypovolemia. Compared to balanced solutions for IV fluid administration, normal saline use has led to separate concerns regarding the development of hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis and acute kidney injury. A number of randomized controlled trials have shown lower rates of hyponatremia using isotonic fluids when compared to hypotonic fluids. Clinical practice guidelines from the United Kingdom and United States have both recommended isotonic IV fluids for the otherwise healthy child in need of maintenance fluid administration, while those with alterations in water or solute balance require more individualized approaches. Large studies in adults have shown lower rates of acute kidney injury with balanced solutions compared to normal saline although similar data in children is lacking. Retrospective pediatric data has not shown a consistent difference between these interventions. Isotonic fluids should be first line therapy for otherwise healthy children in need of maintenance IV fluids. Evidence for the standard use of balanced solutions in children remains more limited, until large randomized trials can be performed.

SAT-673 Acute Onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Caused by the Checkpoint Inhibitor Nivolumab

Background. Checkpoint inhibitors are monoclonal antibodies that augment immune system antitumor activity. Nivolumab is a checkpoint inhibitor that targets the programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1). Approximately 15% of patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors experience endocrine immune-related adverse events (irAEs), with autoimmune thyroid disorders and hypophysitis the most common endocrine irAEs. We present a case of acute onset type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) complicating treatment with nivolumab. Case. An 84 year old female received nivolumab (Opdivo) for metastatic small cell lung cancer. She tolerated twelve cycles of treatment well, but after the thirteenth cycle, she developed polydipsia and polyuria that prompted her to seek medical attention. Laboratories in the emergency department were notable for plasma glucose 998 mg/dL, bicarbonate 13 mM, anion gap 24, and strongly positive serum and urine ketones. An insulin infusion and parenteral fluids promptly resolved diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and the patient was then managed with subcutaneous basal/bolus insulin. Antibody markers (e.g. anti-GAD65) for T1D were undetectable, and evaluation for other endocrine irAEs was unremarkable. Given the rapid onset of DKA and the patient’s advanced age, she was diagnosed with nivolumab-induced T1D and discharged home on exogenous insulin. Conclusions. In a recent meta-analysis of 38 immune checkpoint inhibitor trials and over 7,500 patients, T1D was the least common endocrine irAE. The incidence of T1D was 0.2% compared to 6.6% for hypothyroidism, 2.9% for hyperthyroidism, 1.3% for hypophysitis, and 0.7% for primary adrenal insufficiency. All but one case (12/13) of T1D occurred in patients treated with a PD-1 inhibitor. Markers of both cellular and humoral diabetes-associated autoimmunity have been demonstrated in patients with T1D during treatment with nivolumab, and autoimmune destruction of beta-cells is the presumed etiology of diabetes. However, diabetes autoantibodies are detected in only about 50% of cases, and the absence of humoral markers does not exclude the diagnosis of nivolumab-induced T1D. There is a slight male predominance among published cases of nivolumab-induced T1D, and though median onset of T1D1 is after 11 weeks of treatment, there is a wide range of recorded times to T1D onset. Approximately 70% of patients present in DKA, and the significant majority of patients have undetectable or low C-peptide levels. Unfortunately, loss of beta-cell function persists after stopping nivolumab, and lifelong exogenous insulin is required for diabetes management. Though nivolumab-induced T1D is rare, the high risk of DKA as in this patient’s case illustrates the importance of recognizing nivolumab as a potential cause of autoimmune diabetes in older patients receiving anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.

Characterizing Avoidable Transfer Admissions in Infants Hospitalized for Bronchiolitis.

The appropriateness of interfacility transfer admissions for bronchiolitis to pediatric centers is uncertain. We characterized avoidable transfer admissions for bronchiolitis. We hypothesized that a higher proportion of hospitalized infants transferred from a community emergency department (ED) or hospital (transfer admission) would be discharged within 48 hours with little or no intervention, compared with direct admissions from an enrolling ED (nontransfer admission). We analyzed a 17-center, prospective infant cohort (age <1 year) hospitalized for bronchiolitis (2011-2014). An avoidable transfer admission (primary outcome) was hospitalization for <48 hours without an intervention for severe illness in which a pediatric specialist could be beneficial (oxygen, advanced airway management, life support). Parenteral fluids and routine medications were excluded. We compared admissions by patient, ED, inpatient, and transferring hospital characteristics to identify factors associated with avoidable transfer admissions. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of avoidable transfer admission. Among 1007 infants, 558 (55%) were nontransfer admissions, 164 (16%) were transfer admissions, and 204 (20%) were referrals from clinics; 81 (8%) were missing referral type. Significantly fewer transferred infants were hospitalized for <48 hours with little or no intervention (40 of 164; 24% [95% confidence interval 18%-32%]) than nontransferred infants (199 of 558; 36% [95% confidence interval 32%-40%]; P = .007). Avoidable transfer admissions were more likely to be children of color, have nonprivate insurance, receive fewer ED interventions, and originate from small EDs. A multivariable model revealed that minority race and/or ethnicity, normal oxygenation, and small ED transfers increased odds of avoidable transfer admission. Although most transferred infants hospitalized for bronchiolitis required interventions for severe illness, 1 in 4 admissions were potentially avoidable.

A physiological approach to fluid and electrolyte management of the preterm infant: Review.

Despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of preterm infants receive parenteral fluids each year, study of optimal fluid and electrolyte management in this population is limited. Compared to older children and adults, preterm infants have an impaired capacity to regulate water and electrolyte balance. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management is critical for optimal care of low birth weight or sick infants, as fluid overload and electrolyte abnormalities pose significant morbidity. This review highlights basic physiological principles which need to be applied when prescribing parenteral fluids and builds upon published literature to outline a rational approach to initial fluid and electrolyte management of the preterm infant.

Comparison of isotonic and hypotonic intravenous fluids in term newborns: is it time to quit hypotonic fluids

Objective Hypotonic fluids have been traditionally used in newborns. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence-2015 (NICE) fluid therapy guideline recommends the use of isotonic fluids as maintenance fluid therapy in term newborns. However, there is no clear evidence supporting this recommendation. This study aims to compare isotonic (5% dextrose in 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl)) and hypotonic (5% dextrose in 0.45% NaCl) parenteral fluid therapies in hospitalized term newborns with regard to changes in plasma Na (pNa) and complications related with fluid therapy. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study performed in a tertiary university hospital NICU between January 2016 and April 2018. Term newborns who were initially isonatremic or mildly dysnatremic (pNa <130 or >155 meq/L) and receiving fluid therapy for maintenance or replacement therapy after 48th postnatal hours were eligible for the study. Infants having specific diagnoses requiring extraordinary fluids were excluded. The primary outcome evaluated was the change in mean plasma Na (ΔpNa meq/L/h) at 24 h or at the end of intravenous (i.v.) fluid therapy. Secondary outcomes evaluated were the risk of hyponatremia, hypernatremia, and adverse events attributable to fluid administration. Results Among the 108 included newborns, 57 received hypotonic fluid (5% dextrose solution in 0.45% NaCl) and the remaining received isotonic fluid (5% dextrose solution in 0.9% NaCl) therapy. The hypotonic fluid group showed a greater ΔpNa compared to the isotonic group (0.48 ± 0.28 vs. 0.27 ± 0.21 meq/L/h, p = .001). The risk of experiencing unsafe plasma Na decrease in the hypotonic fluid group (ΔpNa >0.5 meq/L/h) was higher than the isotonic fluid group (odd ratio: 8.46; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.3–30.06). Six mildly hypernatremic babies between 48 and 72 h of postnatal age showed insufficient Na reduction despite the appropriate amount of fluid. No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of other outcomes. Conclusion The results of this study suggested that as maintenance or replacement fluid therapy in the newborn, hypotonic fluids, even 5% dextrose in 0.45% NaCl, can lead to unsafe plasma Na decreases in term newborns, while isotonic fluids are safe when started after the first few days of life. Although the results parallel NICE guidelines, before making recommendations regarding the removal of hypotonic fluids entirely from clinical practice in term newborns following the renal adaptation period; larger randomized controlled studies involving a wide range of babies are needed.