Intravenous fluid therapy - an under-recognized patient safety opportunity.
Inappropriate fluid regimens are rarely documented as being responsible for patient harm, although there is considerable circumstantial evidence to suggest that fluid overload may be a considerably under-estimated source of patient morbidity and mortality. The GIFTASUP fluid management guidelines published in 2008 offer a valuable opportunity to consider a more standardised approach to fluid management, possibly in the context of developing routine hospital services to support good practice.
Smellie
W S A
WS
Bishop Auckland General Hospital, Co Durham, UK. stuart.smellie@cddft.nhs.uk
D001671:Biochemistry / Q000379:methods; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000379:methods*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012449:Safety; D006113:United Kingdom