Maintenance fluid management in paediatrics

Intravenous maintenance fluids are life sustaining and form one of the cornerstones of paediatric in-patient management. Similar to other medical therapies fluids come with side effects and the potential for significant associated morbidity and mortality. An appreciation of their side effect profiles in the context of paediatric physiology, particularly during critical illness, is essential in order to minimise the risks. This article summarises the history of paediatric fluid prescribing practice, highlighting the associated iatrogenic risks and provides a strategy for safer practice.