Standards of practice should be established for postoperative IV solutions that are used to hydrate patients, particularly children. The standards should acknowledge that the administration of solutions with saline in maintenance parenteral fluids is an important measure that can be taken to prevent hyponatremia in children, who tend to experience increased ADH production.15 If appropriate, criteria should include a schedule of when laboratory studies are required to determine electrolyte levels in patients receiving IV fluids for hydration over an extended period of time.

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