What is the recommended fluid requirement for an 11 kg girl over 24 hours?

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Fluid Requirement Calculation for an 11 kg Girl

For an 11 kg girl, the recommended 24-hour fluid requirement is 1050 ml, calculated using the Holliday-Segar formula. 1

Calculation Method Using Holliday-Segar Formula

The Holliday-Segar formula remains the standard method for calculating maintenance fluid requirements in children 1, 2. This formula calculates fluid needs based on weight tiers:

  1. First 10 kg: 100 ml/kg/day (4 ml/kg/hour)
  2. Second 10 kg: 50 ml/kg/day (2 ml/kg/hour)
  3. Each additional kg: 25 ml/kg/day (1 ml/kg/hour)

For an 11 kg child:

  • First 10 kg: 10 kg × 100 ml/kg/day = 1000 ml/day
  • Additional 1 kg: 1 kg × 50 ml/kg/day = 50 ml/day
  • Total: 1000 ml + 50 ml = 1050 ml/day

Hourly Rate Calculation

  • First 10 kg: 10 kg × 4 ml/kg/hour = 40 ml/hour
  • Additional 1 kg: 1 kg × 2 ml/kg/hour = 2 ml/hour
  • Total: 40 ml + 2 ml = 42 ml/hour

Clinical Considerations

Electrolyte Requirements

When administering maintenance fluids, appropriate electrolyte content should be included 1:

  • Sodium: 1-3 mmol/kg/day
  • Potassium: 1-3 mmol/kg/day
  • Chloride: 2-4 mmol/kg/day

Fluid Type Selection

  • Isotonic solutions (0.9% NaCl) are recommended for maintenance therapy in hospitalized children 3
  • Hypotonic solutions should be avoided due to risk of hyponatremia 3

Important Caveats and Adjustments

The calculated maintenance fluid requirement may need adjustment in certain clinical scenarios:

  1. Increased fluid needs:

    • Fever (increase by approximately 10-20% per degree Celsius above normal)
    • Hyperventilation
    • Hypermetabolism
    • Gastrointestinal losses 1
  2. Decreased fluid needs:

    • Renal failure
    • Congestive heart failure
    • Critical illness
    • Mechanical ventilation 1
  3. Special populations requiring fluid restriction:

    • Patients at risk for inadequate ADH secretion: restrict to 65-80% of calculated volume 3
    • Edematous states: restrict to 50-60% of calculated volume 3

Monitoring Parameters

When administering maintenance fluids, regular monitoring should include:

  • Fluid balance (intake and output)
  • Electrolyte levels
  • Clinical status
  • Body weight changes 1, 3

Practical Application

For this 11 kg girl, the 1050 ml/day (42 ml/hour) represents the baseline maintenance requirement. This calculation provides a starting point that should be adjusted based on the child's clinical condition, ongoing losses, and laboratory values.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Pediatric fluid and electrolyte therapy.

The journal of pediatric pharmacology and therapeutics : JPPT : the official journal of PPAG, 2009

Guideline

Fluid Management in Patients with Hyponatremia

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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