title: Basic rules of parenteral fluid therapy.
abstract: The following basic rules of parenteral fluid therapy are formulated with the aim of alleviating concern and confusion about i.v. fluid orders that are experienced by most physicians: Don't be generous with fluid; in determining the water intake, one must know the usual water output through the kidney, skin and lung; one must know the quantities of the electrolytes and nutrients that are being given, and know the initial volume of distribution (usually the ECF); one must know the aim of fluid therapy; one must not give and remove the same substance at the same time; one must be aware that hypertonic saline contains less water for a given amount of Na than isotonic saline; one must be familiar with different i.v. solutions and i.v. additives; one must be aware that the kidney does not manufacture water or electrolytes except for bicarbonate; for short-term fluid therapy, divalent ions (Ca, Mg, and P) do not need replacement; one should think about COP-wedge gradient in determining the type of fluid to be given.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11203, USA. moh@netmail.hsbklyn.edu
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D012996:Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D012996:Solutions; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium