Hypotonic and isotonic intravenous maintenance fluids in hospitalised paediatric patients: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the changes in serum sodium and acid/base status in patients receiving hypotonic and isotonic solutions.

Design: A randomised, controlled and double-blind clinical trial.

Setting: Department of Paediatrics in a tertiary general hospital (Hospital Universitario Austral) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Effectiveness of magnesium sulfate as initial treatment of acute severe asthma in children, conducted in a tertiary-level university hospital: a randomized, controlled trial.

Introduction: Magnesium sulfate is a calcium antagonist that inhibits bronchial smooth muscle contraction promoting bronchodilation. It is used for the management of acute severe asthma in children; however most of the studies have been performed in adults.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of intravenous magnesium sulfate for the treatment of pediatric patients with acute severe asthma exacerbations.