Rev Med Hered 17 (4), 2006 189 Fluidoterapia EV en pacientes ancianos ARTICULOS ORIGINALES Efecto de la fluido terapia endovenosa en los electrolitos y gases arteriales de pacientes ancianos hospitalizados. Estudio comparativo: Solución Hartmann y solución salina hipotónica. Effect of intravenous therapy on the electrolytes and arterial blood gases of hospitalized elderly patients. A comparative study between Hartmann´s solution and hypotonic saline solution. MALAGA RODRIGUEZ Germán Javier 1 , DE PINO VELASCO Dino Mario, CIEZA ZEVALLOS Javier 2 . SUMMARY Objective: To compare the effect of hypotonic dextrose solution vs. isotonic Hartmann solution on serum electrolytes and acid-base equilibrium in elderly hospitalized patients. Patients and methods: Eighteen patients over 60-years old, admitted to medicine department of the Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia and received intravenous fluids during 48 hours, were prospectively evaluated. Control cohort received a solution of 5% dextrose, 71 mmol/L of sodium chloride, and 27 mmol/L of potassium chloride. Experimental cohort received Hartmann's solution plus 100 cc of 50% dextrose solution. The electrolytes and blood gas levels were measured at hours 0, 24, and 48. Results: Electrolyte levels and the acid-base equilibrium were similar for both cohorts at the beginning of study. After 48 hours we observed significant differences between cohorts in the sodium (G1=134.5±4.4, G2=140±2.4, p<0.01), pH (G1=7.32±0.07, G2=7.4±0.03, p<0.01), and bicarbonate (G1=16.6±2.2, G2=22.3±1.6, p<0.001) levels. The differences between the values at hours 0 and 48 (delta) were: sodium -6.1±3.78(G1), 0.9±2.25(G2) mEq/l, (p<0.001); potassium 0.01±0.43(G1), -0.61±0.56(G2) mEq/L, (p=0.05); pH -0.09±0.07(G1), -0.01±0.04(G2), (p<0.01); bicarbonate -6.34±1.21(G1), -0.27±1.43(G2) mEq/L, (p<0.001); pCO2 -6.25±5.33(G1), 1.4±4.52(G2) mmHg, (p<0.01). Conclusions: Elderly hospitalized patients who received hypotonic dextrose solution had significantly lower plasma sodium, pH, bicarbonate, and pCO 2 levels after 48 hours of intravenous fluid therapy as compared with patients who received Hartmann's solution. No significant differences in chloride, pO 2 , and anion gap serum levels were observed. (Rev Med Hered 2006;17:189-195). KEY WORDS: Fluid therapy, electrolyte disorders, acid-base disorders, Hartmann's solution, elderly, hospitalized patients. 1 Médico Asistente Departamento de Medicina, Servicio de Medicina Interna del Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia. Profesor del Departamento de Medicina. Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado-Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú. 2 Profesor Principal. Departamento de Medicina. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú. Servicio de Nefrología, Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia.