Comparison of Intraoperative Glycemic Levels in Infants with the Use of Ringer Lactate with Supplemental 1% versus 2% Dextrose as Maintenance Fluid

CONTEXT: There is no consensus regarding the concentration of dextrose supplementation to be used in pediatric patients intraoperatively. AIMS: The primary objective was to assess the effect of using Ringer lactate (RL) with 1% versus 2% dextrose as maintenance fluid in infants on intraoperative blood glucose levels. The secondary objectives included assessment of incidence of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia in both groups. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was a prospective randomized study conducted in a tertiary care teaching institute. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty infants undergoing cheiloplasty or palatoplasty were included. All patients fasted 6 h for solids and formula feeds, 4 h for breast milk, and 2 h for clear fluids and received general anesthesia as per standardized protocol. Patients belonging to Group 1 received RL with 1% dextrose supplementation, whereas Group 2 received RL with 2% dextrose added to it as an intraoperative maintenance fluid. Random blood sugar (RBS) was checked preoperatively and then at 60 min and 120 min after induction. Hypoglycemia was defined as RBS <70 mg/dL and hyperglycemia as RBS >150 mg/dL. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Independent sample ttest and Pearson's Chisquare test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Preoperative RBS was comparable in both groups. RBS at 60 and 120 min was significantly higher in Group 2 compared to Group 1. There was no incidence of hypoglycemia in both groups, and the incidence of hyperglycemia was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Use of RL with 2% dextrose as intraoperative maintenance fluid in infants resulted in significant increase in blood sugar levels as compared to addition of 1% dextrose although the incidence of hyperglycemia remained comparable in both groups.