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:
- First 10 kg: 100 ml/kg/day (4 ml/kg/hour)
- Second 10 kg: 50 ml/kg/day (2 ml/kg/hour)
- 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:
Increased fluid needs:
- Fever (increase by approximately 10-20% per degree Celsius above normal)
- Hyperventilation
- Hypermetabolism
- Gastrointestinal losses 1
Decreased fluid needs:
- Renal failure
- Congestive heart failure
- Critical illness
- Mechanical ventilation 1
Special populations requiring fluid restriction:
Monitoring Parameters
When administering maintenance fluids, regular monitoring should include:
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.