Intravenous fluid therapy

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Intravenous fluid therapy


Intravenous (IV) fluid therapy is an integral part of clinical practice in hospitals. Every hospital doctor should be familiar with the principles underlying the appropriate administration of intravenous fluids. Each time fluids are prescribed, the following questions should be addressed:





Which IV fluids should be given?


The list of intravenous fluids that is available for prescription in many hospital formularies is long and potentially bewildering. However, with a few exceptions, many of these fluids are variations on the three basic types of fluid shown in Figure 13.1.




image Plasma, whole blood, or plasma expanders. These replace deficits in the vascular compartment only. They are indicated where there is a reduction in the blood volume due to blood loss from whatever cause. Such solutions are sometimes referred to as ‘colloids’ to distinguish them from ‘crystalloids’. Colloidal particles in solution cannot pass through the (semipermeable) capillary membrane, in contrast with crystalloid particles like sodium and chloride ions, which can. This is why they are confined to the vascular compartment, whereas sodium chloride (‘saline’) solutions are distributed throughout the entire ECF.


image Isotonic sodium chloride (0.9% NaCl). It is called isotonic because its effective osmolality, or tonicity, is similar to that of the ECF. Once it is administered it is confined to the ECF and is indicated where there is a reduced ECF volume, as, for example, in sodium depletion.


image Water

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Jun 18, 2016 | Posted by in BIOCHEMISTRY | Comments Off on Intravenous fluid therapy

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