A Comparative Study of Peri-Operative Fluid Therapy With Ringer Lactate and PlasmaLyte in Children Undergoing Intra-Abdominal Surgery: A Randomized Control Trial

Background In this study, we compared Ringer’s lactate solution (RL) with PlasmaLyte (PL), a relatively new IV fluid, for perioperative fluid therapy in the pediatric population. Methods This prospective and interventional randomized comparative study was carried out after obtaining clearance from the Institutional Ethics Committee. The study period was from November 2016 to December 2017. Results Hemodynamic parameters such as SpO2, ETCO2, heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and urine output were stable in both groups throughout the perioperative period without any statistically or clinically significant variations. Children receiving PL (group PL) had better acid-base status, serum electrolytes, and blood lactate profiles compared with children receiving RL (group RL), who had hyponatremia and increased blood lactate levels, which continued to increase in the immediate postoperative period. No significant differences in pH, pCO(2), HCO(3), serum potassium, serum chloride, blood urea, serum creatinine, or blood sugar were observed. Conclusions PL is better than RL for perioperative fluid therapy in children undergoing abdominal surgeries.