A comparison of two different fluid resuscitation management protocols for pediatric burn patients: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Pediatric burn patients are more susceptible to burn shock than adults, and an effective fluid management protocol is critical to successful resuscitation. Our research aim was to investigate the safety and efficacy of two protocols for pediatric burn patients for use within the first 24h.

METHODS: A total of 113 pediatric burn patients were enrolled from January 2007 to October 2012. Of those patients, 57 received fluid titration regimens of alternating crystalloids and colloids once within 2h in the first 24h after burn (Group A), whereas the remaining patients received regimens of alternating crystalloids and colloids once within 1h in the first 24h after burn (Group B). The safety, fluid volume infused and urine output were recorded and compared.

RESULTS: All the patients survived in the first 24h after burn. There were no significant differences between Group A and Group B in lactic acid (LA) level and base excess (BE). The water infused in Group A were greater than that of Group B in the first 24h (P=0.024). No significant differences were found in total volume intake and hourly urine output between the 2 groups in the first 24h.

CONCLUSION: The implementation of fluid resuscitation using either protocol A or protocol B is safe and effective for pediatric burn patients in the first 24h. The total fluid infused were similar between two protocols. But using protocol A may be more convenient and labor-saving for nurses.