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

To ensure that paediatric surgery patients receive appropriate intravenous fluids post‐operatively.

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.

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.

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.