Abstract:
Aim: To detect the effect of earlier potassium addition in intravenous fluid of newborn.
Study design; Quazi experimental study.
Place and duration of study: This study was conducted in two and half years at Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching
Hospital Gujrat from January 2014 to June 2016.
Methods: Total 200 newborns were selected for study who were delivered after 37 weeks of gestation. Newborns
were received in pediatrics emergency and admitted in nursery. Newborns having poor sucking due to birth
asphyxia were included in the study. Newborns were diagnosed on history, examination and all the necessary
investigations were advised. Two groups were made group A and group B, each group was having 100 newborns.
All newborns who were having gestational age less than 37 weeks, babies with congenital heart disease, any
renal problem and babies in very sick condition were excluded from the study. After admission in nursery all the
necessary treatment was started. All the newborns were kept on intravenous fluid for three days. After
assessment of adequate urine output, in group A potassium was added in the start of second day of life and on
other hand in group B potassium was added at the end of third day of life. Baby was observed for abdominal
distention on start of fourth day of life.
Results: In our study, we observed effect of earlier addition of potassium in intravenous fluid of newborns
admitted in hospital. On fourth day of life, tolerance of first feed was also observed. In our study, in group A 2(2%)
newborns showed potassium level below 3.5mEq/L at the start of second day of life. While, in group B (potassium
started at the end of third day of life) 01 (1%) newborn showed potassium level below 3.5 mEq/L at the start of
second day of life On other hand, in group A (potassium started at start of second day of life) no newborn (00%)
showed potassium level below 3.5mEq/L at the end of third day of life. While , in group B 5(5%) newborns showed
potassium level below 3.5mEq/L at the end of third day of life, In our study, feed which was given at the start of
fourth day of life, in group A 1(1%) newborn showed mild abdominal distention intolerance at fourth day of life.
Conclusions: Early addition of potassium in intravenous fluid of premature babies may decrease the chances of
abdominal distention and may help in starting milk in early days of life. It may decrease the number of days of
admission of newborn babies in nursery.
