Tag: Fluid therapy

According to the Cleveland Clinic, intravenous fluids are a common medical treatment, with up to 90 percent of hospitalized patients receiving an IV. This guide explains **what are the three types of fluid therapy**—crystalloids, colloids, and blood products—and their distinct medical applications, compositions, and risks.

Over 200 million liters of saline are administered to hospital patients in the U.S. annually, making it one of the most common medical therapies. However, concerns over its high chloride content have led to exploring what is an alternative to saline drip for various clinical needs.

Hypertonic saline is one of the most frequently used hypertonic solutions in critical care, particularly for managing conditions such as severe symptomatic hyponatremia and elevated intracranial pressure. Unlike normal saline, this concentrated solution draws water out of cells and into the bloodstream through osmosis.

Millions of intravenous fluid units are administered annually for volume resuscitation and procedures like therapeutic plasma exchange [1.7.5]. When donor plasma isn't used, what instead of plasma can be used as a replacement fluid? The main alternatives fall into two categories: crystalloids and colloids [1.3.1, 1.4.5].

While often used for fluid replacement, Ringer's lactate solution is not appropriate for all patients and can cause serious complications if administered incorrectly. Understanding **what are the contraindications for Ringer's lactate solution?** is crucial for patient safety in a variety of clinical scenarios where metabolic or electrolyte imbalances already exist.

DNS saline, a sterile intravenous solution of 5% dextrose and 0.9% sodium chloride, is commonly used in medical settings to address both fluid and energy deficiencies. Administered via an IV drip, it serves a specific therapeutic purpose different from standard normal saline.

Hypertonic saline, or 3% sodium chloride, has an osmolarity approximately three times that of normal saline, enabling it to rapidly correct severe fluid and electrolyte imbalances. So, what is INJ NaCl 3 used for? It is a specialized, high-concentration intravenous fluid reserved for serious medical conditions like severe symptomatic hyponatremia and increased intracranial pressure.

Despite the widespread use of electronic infusion pumps, manual intravenous (IV) fluid administration is still necessary in many clinical and emergency settings. To ensure accurate medication delivery in these cases, healthcare professionals must understand exactly **what is a drop factor** and how to use it for precise calculations.