Significance of the application of oral rehydration solution to maintain water and electrolyte balance in infants with ileostomy.

INTRODUCTION Ileostomy represents a necessary procedure to solve various surgical diseases in children. As the result of increased fluid loss and colonic exclusion in its regulation, it is often followed, particularly during the first months after birth, by chronic dehydration and failure to thrive. OBJECTIVE The aim of the paper was to present our experience related to the application of oral rehydration solution (ORS) to compensate the intestinal loss of water and electrolytes in infants with ileostomy. METHODS Treatment was performed with ORS containing 65 mmol/L of sodium in five infants aged 1.5-8 months (3.8+/-2.46 months) with dehydration and undernutrition after ileostomy performed in the first five days after birth. RESULTS After rehydration, the continual application of ORS in the daily dosage of 63.90+/-25.03 ml/kg, i.e. approximately matching the volume of intestinal content elimination (57.00+/-19.23 ml/kg), resulted in all infants in optimal water and electrolyte homeostasis, and in further course also in the improvement of their nutritional status (p=0.023). CONCLUSION Our experience indicates that continual application of reduced sodium content of ORS in the approximate equal quantity of intestinal content loss represents the method of choice in water and electrolyte homeostasis maintenance in infants with ileostomy.