What are Intravenous Fluids (IV Fluids)?

About Intravenous Fluids (IV Fluids):

• IV fluids are specially formulated liquids that are injected into a vein to preventor treat dehydration.
• They are used in people of all ages who are sick, injured, dehydrated from exercise or heat, or undergoing surgery.
• Intravenous rehydration is a simple, safe, and common procedure with a low risk of complications.
• IV fluid often contains water, glucose (sugar), and electrolytes (potassium, sodium, and chloride).
• An IV may allow more than one fluid to be given at the same time and into the same place.
• What are the types of IV fluids?
• Crystalloid solutions:
  • These are the most common types of IV fluid.
  • They contain small, dissolved moleculesthat pass easily from the bloodstream into tissues and cells.
  • As a result, crystalloid solutions are readily available to your cells once they travel in.
  • Examples include normal saline, which is salt in water, and D5W, which is dextrose (sugar) in water.
  • Another example is lactated Ringer’s, which contains sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, and lactate. It’s used for aggressive fluid replacement.
  • Colloids: 
    • These are large molecules that can’t easily pass through cell membranes and are more likely to stay in the blood vessels.
    • In healthcare terms, this means that colloid solutions, unlike crystalloid solutions, remain intravascular. 
• Examples include albumin and hetastarch.

Q1: Which vein is used for IV?

Some common sites for short-term IV lines include forearm locations, such as the wrist or elbow, or the back of the hand. Some situations may require using the outer surface of the foot. In very urgent situations, healthcare professionals may decide to use other injection sites, such as a vein in the neck.

Source: TH