Treatment of the young child with postoperative central diabetes insipidus
J. A. McDonald, P. M. Martha Jr, J. Kerrigan, W. L. Clarke, A. D. Rogol and R. M. Blizzard
Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville 22908.
A continuous intravenous infusion of aqueous vasopressin (dosage range, 1.0
to 3.0 mU/kg/h) was administered to two patients (respective ages, 2 weeks
and 3 years 1 month) who had postoperative central diabetes insipidus to
determine if this mode of therapy is helpful in the very young patient. In
both patients the polyuria and serum hyperosmolality were corrected. These
findings suggest that an intravenous infusion of aqueous vasopressin can
provide satisfactory control of the polyuria and electrolyte disturbances
found in young children with acute postoperative central diabetes
insipidus.
