Annals of Anesthesiology and Critical Care

Abstract

Background: Hyperkalemia is a common complication of renal transplantation (RT). Normal saline (NS) remains the most commonly used infusion solution during RT to avoid hyperkalemia, but it is associated with hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis.

Objectives: We aimed to study the metabolic profile and renal function in RT patients managed with equal NS and ringer’s lactate (RL) solution versus NS alone.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 46 adult patients (17 females and 29 males) undergoing living-related RT were recruited and divided into the two groups according to the IV fluid infusion: NS and RL-NS. Subsequently, patients were evaluated based on arterial blood gas (ABG) test, sodium (Na), potassium (K), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (Cr) before and after RT and 3 and 7-day BUN and Cr.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 44.52_12.58 years in NS and 45.43_14.29 years in NS-RL group. There were no significant differences in the demographic and baseline patients’ characteristics between the two groups. BUN and Cr were lower in the NS group up to 7 days after RT (all P < 0.05). Serum Na was lower in the NS-RL group and serum K was higher in this group significantly (P = 0.004 and 0.028, respectively). No significant difference was observed regarding acid-base balance and other ABG measures. No case of hyperkalemia or acidosis was observed after RT.

Conclusions: Our study showed that neither NS nor NS-RL solutions were associated with the risk of hyperkalemia or acidosis after RT; however, renal function was superior in patients receiving the NS infusion.