[Hypodermoclysis: benefits and indications in geriatrics].
OBJECTIVE
Older people are at high risk of dehydration. Oral intakes are often inadequate routinely. Intravenous infusion may be difficult in these patients and harmful. Subcutaneous infusion or hypodermoclysis is a useful technique for the cure of a moderate dehydration in elderly patients and especially for its prevention. Moreover, this technique is of great interest in end-life patients.


BACKGROUND
When it is used correctly and when its contraindications are respected (emergency situations), hypodermoclysis is a simple, safe, sure, effective and comfortable technique. It does not need trained supervision and can be used both in an institution and at home, thus avoiding hospitalization of older subjects and reducing health costs. This technique has considerable benefits both psychologically and financially.


CONCLUSIONS
The numerous advantages of hypodermoclysis should encourage its wider use in older patients at home as well as in institutions. Moreover, new indications need to be evaluated. In this way, subcutaneous infusion of therapeutics or prevention of protein-energy malnutrition by hypodermoclysis of amino acids need further investigations.
Dardaine-Giraud
V
V
Service de soins de suite et réadaptation, hôpital de l'Ermitage, CHU de Tours, 2, allée Gaston-Pagès, 37081 Tours cedex 2, France. v.dardaine@chu-tours.fr
Lamandé
M
M
Constans
T
T
D000368:Aged; D003681:Dehydration / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D012996:Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013727:Terminal Care
D012996:Solutions