[Effects of bicarbonated Ringer's solution for infants and children undergoing open-heart surgery]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
• Intensive Care Medicine
• Fluid Management

Background:

• Limited research exists on using bicarbonated Ringer's solution (BR) in pediatric patients.
• The safety and efficacy of BR compared to acetated Ringer's solution (AR) in pediatric open-heart surgery remain unevaluated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of BR as an infusion and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) priming solution in pediatric patients undergoing open-heart surgery.
• To compare the metabolic parameters and sodium bicarbonate administration between BR and AR groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 18 pediatric patients with congenital heart disease undergoing elective open-heart surgery with CPB.
• Patients received either AR (n=8) or BR (n=10) as infusion and CPB priming solution.
• Key biochemical markers (pH, HCO3-, base excess, lactate) were measured at seven time points, alongside sodium bicarbonate administration volumes.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in pH, HCO3-, base excess, or lactate were observed between the BR and AR groups at any measurement point.
• The volume of sodium bicarbonate administered during surgery was significantly lower in the BR group compared to the AR group.

Conclusions:

• Bicarbonated Ringer's solution (BR) is a viable option for fluid management and CPB priming in pediatric open-heart surgery.
• BR effectively reduces the intraoperative requirement for supplemental sodium bicarbonate administration.