Perioperative intravenous fluid therapy in children: guidelines from the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany

Summary This consensus‐ based S1 Guideline for perioperative infusion therapy in children is focused on safety and efficacy. The objective is to maintain or re‐establish the child's normal physiological state (normovolemia, normal tissue perfusion, normal metabolic function, normal acid‐ base‐ electrolyte status). Therefore, the perioperative fasting times should be as short as possible to prevent patient discomfort, dehydration, and ketoacidosis. A physiologically composed balanced isotonic electrolyte solution (BS) with 1–2.5% glucose is recommended for the intraoperative background infusion to maintain normal glucose concentrations and to avoid hyponatremia, hyperchloremia, and lipolysis. Additional BS without glucose can be used in patients with circulatory instability until the desired effect is achieved. The additional use of colloids (albumin, gelatin, hydroxyethyl starch) is recommended to recover normovolemia and to avoid fluid overload when crystalloids alone are not sufficient and blood products are not indicated. Monitoring should be extended in cases with major surgery, and autotransfusion maneuvers should be performed to assess fluid responsiveness.