Tag: Hypovolemia

An estimated 90% of hospitalized patients in the United States receive intravenous (IV) fluid therapy during their stay. The critical question of **how to decide which IV fluid to give** requires a systematic approach based on the patient's underlying condition, electrolyte status, and specific fluid requirements.

Did you know that in cases of severe blood loss, the immediate need is to replace lost volume to maintain blood pressure and tissue oxygenation, not necessarily oxygen-carrying capacity? This is where a plasma substitute solution becomes a critical tool, providing volume expansion therapy when rapid blood replacement is not feasible, especially in emergency situations.

Burn injuries affecting more than 20% of the total body surface area (TBSA) trigger a massive inflammatory response, leading to significant fluid shifts and plasma loss. In these severe cases, understanding why is albumin given to burn patients is crucial for managing burn shock, a life-threatening condition caused by severe hypovolemia.