Intraperitoneal (IP) fluid administration has been previously used to
treat dehydrated children. The relative ease and reported safety of th
is route suggests its potential utility for volume resuscitation in th
e acutely ill child. Previous research regarding IP fluid infusion has
not examined its use in shock states. This experiment sought to exami
ne the efficacy of an IP fluid infusion in a shock model. Ten immature
swine were randomized to receive either no treatment (n = 5) or 30 ml
/kg of warmed lactated Ringer's solution (n = 5) IP 20 minutes after a
graded 40% hemorrhage. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR),
hematocrit (Hct), pH, and PCO2 were determined serially, and the expe
riment concluded 60 minutes after intervention. A mean of 89.5% of the
administered fluid load was recovered from the peritoneal cavity, and
the IP infusion had no ameliorative effect on MAP or HR. The lack of
clinically significant absorption of an administered isotonic intraper
itoneal fluid infusion in this model suggests that this route should n
ot be relied upon in the critically ill child presenting in shock.