A simplified guideline for intraoperative fluid administration, depending on the child’s age and severity of surgical trauma, was proposed by Berry in ‘Anaesthetic Management of Difficult and Routine Pediatric Patients’.

First hour: plus item 3 (Blood replacement) below

25 ml/kg in children aged 3 years and under
15 ml/kg in children aged 4 years and over

All other hours: plus item 3 (Blood replacement) below

Maintenance + trauma = basic hourly fluid rate
Maintenance volume = 4 ml/kg/h
Maintenance + mild trauma = 6 ml/kg/h
Maintenance + moderate trauma = 8 ml/kg/h
Maintenance + severe trauma = 10 ml/kg/h

Blood replacement

1:1 with blood or colloid
3:1 with crystalloid

Body weight	Fluid required
0-10 kg	4 ml/kg/h
11-20 kg	40 ml/h plus 2 ml/kg/h for every kg over 10 kg
>20 kg	60 ml/h plus 1 ml/kg/h for every kg over 20 kg

Table 1 Calculation of normal maintenance fluid requirements in children