Subhashree Jayaraman1, Elsa Varghese2
BACKGROUND Infants and small children are vulnerable to developing hypoglycaemia especially when kept fasting preoperatively. The practice of administering dextrose-containing intravenous solutions to children intraoperatively has declined. This study evaluates the incidence of perioperative normoglycaemia in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS 100 children aged 6 months to 6 years who had followed standard fasting guidelines were randomized to receive either Ringer’s lactate (RL) or 1% dextrose Ringer’s lactate (1% DRL) as perioperative fluids. Blood sugar levels were estimated at induction, one hour into surgery and one hour postoperatively. RESULTS 3/100 (3%) children had fasting blood sugar values <50 mg.dL-1. In no child was hypoglycaemia observed intraoperatively. Blood sugar levels increased in all children intraoperatively; median of 98.44 mg.dL-1 in the RL group and 109.64 mg.dL-1 in the 1% DRL group. Intraoperative blood sugar levels were >150 mg.dL-1 in 3 children administered 1% DRL group in 1 child with RL. Postoperative median blood sugar of 90 mg.dL-1 -were noted in 1% DRL group and 83.50 mg.dL-1 in the RL group. CONCLUSION Intraoperative infusion of RL and 1% DRL provides normoglycaemia in the majority of children. Fasting and postoperative hypoglycaemia can occur.
