Intravenous Fluid Management

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Last updated: October 17, 2019
Revisions: 9

Original Author(s): Andy Clarke
Last updated: October 17, 2019
Revisions: 9

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Key Points to Remember

  • A patient’s fluid balance is the homeostatic principle that the amount of fluid that we lose in our sweat, breath urine, stool, vomitus and tears is equal to the amount of fluid that we take in through food, drink and to a lesser extent the water produced from aerobic respiration.
  • If a patient is physiologically healthy, with fluid gains equal to their losses, they have achieved fluid homeostasis and can be described as euvolaemic.
  • This presentation looks at the clinical approach to determining your patient’s fluid balance and discussing safe prescribing practice when it comes to IV fluid therapy, as well as special circumstances such as ‘Nil By Mouth’ status, high output stomas, or comorbidities such as congestive cardiac failure or chronic kidney disease.