Metabolism of Isotonic Versus Hypotonic Maintenance Solutions in Fasting Healthy Adults
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2016-08-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The prescription of intravenous maintenance solutions - although widespread - lacks important
data on the optimal sodium and potassium content, which has given rise to an important debate
in the scientific literature. Our study compares two different infusion fluids in 12 healthy
adult volunteers without renal failure in a single-blind randomized crossover design over two
48 hour periods during which subjects are not allowed to eat or drink. Fluid 1 is a premixed
solution containing 54 mmol/L of sodium and 26 mmol/L of potassium; fluid 2 is sodium
chloride 0.9% in glucose 5% with 40 mmol/L of potassium. Both solutions are administered at
25 mL/kg of ideal body weight, as recommended by current guidelines (NICE 174) and both
solutions are widely used in daily clinical practice. The primary hypothesis is that isotonic
maintenance solutions lead to more fluid retention than hypotonic fluids. Metabolism of both
solutions is assessed by sequential analysis of urine and serum, clinical parameters and
bioelectrical impedance analysis.