title: Oral rehydration therapy: a Third World solution applied to intensive care.
abstract: Oral rehydration therapy (ORT)--World Health Organisation formula--has reduced the mortality of severe diarrhoea tenfold but its use in Intensive Care has not been reported. ORT was administered via a nasogastric tube to 3 adult intensive care patients who developed severe diarrhoea and post-operative acute renal impairment. The median intake of ORT was 2.21/day (range 1.5-3.0) and the mean duration of therapy was 7 days (range 6-10). Renal function improved (creatinine fell from 389 to 165 mmol/l) and both haemodynamic and metabolic stability (Na, K, Mg, PO4 and urea) were maintained. While it may not reduce the volume of diarrhoea, ORT provides a cheap, effective and physiological solution to severe gastrointestinal losses in intensive care and may have wider application in both adult and paediatric practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Mater Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Phelan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003422:Critical Care / Q000592:standards; D016638:Critical Illness; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000032:analysis; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D014508:Urea; D003404:Creatinine