Goal-Directed Fluid Therapy Using Normal Saline versus Ringer's Lactate in Pediatric Neurosurgical Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background Ringer's lactate (RL) and 0.9% sodium chloride (NS) are used intraoperatively in pediatric surgical patients. The fluid of choice in pediatric neurosurgical patients is still under research. Hence, we compared NS and RL intraoperatively with a primary objective of measuring the absolute difference in serum chloride concentrations (ΔCl-) after surgery from baseline. Secondary objectives included changes in other electrolytes, osmolarity, pH, creatinine, brain relaxation score (BRS), and neurological outcome at discharge using a modified Rankin scale (mRS).

Keywords

• neurosurgery
• normal saline
• pediatric
• Ringer's lactate