Inconsistency in Fluid Balance Calculations in UK Paediatric Intensive Care Units: A Short Research Report.

In critically ill children, an accurate fluid balance record is important, especially in small children. Before a multicentre trial begins, we wanted to ascertain what fluids nurses included in their intake across UK Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs). A cross-sectional electronic survey was sent to all UK Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) nurse educators. Thirty responses representing 23 PICUs revealed substantial variation, with many units excluding flushes after intravenous or enteral drugs and very few recording flushes given after blood sampling or blood gas analysis. In many PICUs, fluid balance charts predominantly captured intravenous infusions and drugs only. These omissions risk unrecognised 'fluid creep' and highlight a clear target for nurse education before conservative fluid management trials.