title: Rapid versus standard intravenous rehydration in paediatric gastroenteritis: pragmatic blinded randomised clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if rapid rather than standard intravenous rehydration results in improved hydration and clinical outcomes when administered to children with gastroenteritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single centre, two arm, parallel randomised pragmatic controlled trial. Blocked randomisation stratified by site. Participants, caregivers, outcome assessors, investigators, and statisticians were blinded to the treatment assignment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paediatric emergency department in a tertiary care centre in Toronto, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  226 children aged 3 months to 11 years; complete follow-up was obtained on 223 (99%). Eligible children were aged over 90 days, had a diagnosis of dehydration secondary to gastroenteritis, had not responded to oral rehydration, and had been prescribed intravenous rehydration. Children were excluded if they weighed less than 5 kg or more than 33 kg, required fluid restriction, had a suspected surgical condition, or had an insurmountable language barrier. Children were also excluded if they had a history of a chronic systemic disease, abdominal surgery, bilious or bloody vomit, hypotension, or hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rapid (60 mL/kg) or standard (20 mL/kg) rehydration with 0.9% saline over an hour; subsequent fluids administered according to protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  clinical rehydration, assessed with a validated scale, two hours after the start of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  prolonged treatment, mean clinical dehydration scores over the four hour study period, time to discharge, repeat visits to emergency department, adequate oral intake, and physician's comfort with discharge. Data from all randomised patients were included in an intention to treat analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  114 patients were randomised to rapid rehydration and 112 to standard. One child was withdrawn because of severe hyponatraemia at baseline. There was no evidence of a difference between the rapid and standard rehydration groups in the proportions of participants who were rehydrated at two hours (41/114 (36%) v 33/112 (30%); difference 6.5% (95% confidence interval -5.7% to 18.7%; P=0.32). The results did not change after adjustment for weight, baseline dehydration score, and baseline pH (odds ratio 1.8, 0.90 to 3.5; P=0.10). The rates of prolonged treatment were similar (52% rapid v 43% standard; difference 8.9%, 21% to -5%; P=0.19). Although dehydration scores were similar throughout the study period (P=0.96), the median time to discharge was longer in the rapid group (6.3 v 5.0 hours; P=0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are no relevant clinical benefits from the administration of rapid rather than standard intravenous rehydration to haemodynamically stable children deemed to require intravenous rehydration. Trail registration Clinical Trials NCT00392145.
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. stephen.freedman@sickkids.ca
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.forename: Patricia C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Parkin
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Willan
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schuh
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003681:Dehydration / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000379:methods; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
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