Paediatric surgery fluid management audit (January-June 2004), John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford

Purpose - To ensure that paediatric surgery patients receive appropriate intravenous fluids post-operatively. Design/methodology/approach - Retrospective case-series study of paediatric patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, comparing fluids received with a target regimen and noting the effect on urine output and serum sodium. Findings - Patients in the study received larger amounts of fluid than the target regimen. Urine outputs were normal to high. Post-operative sodium levels were normal in all patients. Originality/value - Paediatric surgery fluid management is an ongoing and important subject for debate. Audit can help improve implementation of accepted fluid management protocols. Interdepartmental seminars, a national survey of practice, and revision of fluid management protocols have resulted from this survey. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.