Mohit Vijay Rojekar1 , Arati Anand Adhe2 , Jayesh Panot3 , Poonam Onkar Lalla4
BACKGROUND Electrolyte balance plays key role in maintaining homeostasis along with fluids in paediatric patients. The higher and lower value of critical electrolytes like sodium, potassium and chloride can affect cellular processes drastically as it may result in cardiac and neurological complications. This can alter patient status in terms of morbidity and mortality. Hence, Electrolyte imbalance significantly affects the quality of life of the patient. In this study we have analysed three electrolytes; sodium, potassium and chloride. The accurate measurement of electrolytes is an important prognostic indicator in PICU patients where greater attention and proper analysis is recommended. METHODS 180 paediatric patients in the age group of 2-15 years with various critical illnesses admitted in PICU of a tertiary care hospital were included in the study. The serum samples were analysed on Transasia Biomedicals XL 640 – a fully automated biochemistry analyser which has Ion Selective Electrode (ISE-Na/K/Cl) and diffraction grating for high resolution measurement. RESULTS Out of the 180 paediatric patients enrolled for the study, 83 were females and 97 were males. Hypernatremia was observed in 35% patients while hyponatremia in 31%. Hyperkalaemia was observed in 27% patients while hypokalaemia in 14%. Hyperchloremia in 24% while hypochloraemia 5% patients. CONCLUSIONS The electrolyte balance plays a key role in treatment of patients admitted in PICU. The accurate measurement of electrolyte like sodium, potassium & Chloride is an important prognostic indicator where greater attention and proper analysis is recommended. Also, the presence of electrolyte imbalance at the time of admission is an important prognostic indicator in critically ill children irrespective of primary disease process and needs to be addressed aggressively. The study helped us in maintaining the electrolyte ‘homeostasis’ in the body which is vital for the organ’s support and optimal function and also evaluating therapies and matching severity of illness in the PICU.
