Parenteral fluid therapy following cardiac surgery in childhood.

Water and electrolyte balance studies were carried out for 48 hours after operations in small children, who underwent cardiac surgery with or without extracorporeal circulation. Insensible water loss, obligatory urine water and minimum requirement of water were determined. Serum osmolarity and body weight changes in relation to water intake were examined. An adequate dose of water was concluded to be 1,100ml./M.2/day to 1,400ml./M.2/day in the first postoperative day and 1,000ml./M.2/day to 1,400ml./M.2/day in the second postoperative day. Serum Na, K and Cl concentration values were within or close to normal range throughout these studies. Interrelations between intake and gain-or-loss of electrolytes (Na, K and Cl) were examined. It was found that sodium and chloride intake up to 40-50mEq./M.2/day are advisable.