Intravenous fluid therapy is essential when clients are unable to take food and fluids orally. It is an efficient and effective method of supplying fluids directly in to the intravascular fluid compartment and replacing electrolyte losses. Intravenous fluid therapy is usually ordered by the physician. Intravenous solutions can be classified as isotonic, hypotonic or hypertonic. Most IV solutions are isotonic, having the same concentration of solutes as blood plasma.
Isotonic solutions are often used to restore vascular volume not like hypertonic solutions which has a greater concentration of solutes than plasma while hypotonic solutions have a lesser concentration of solutes. Common isotonic solutions used are 0. 9 NaCl or normal saline to restore vascular volume, particularly trauma or surgery. They may also be used to replace fluid and electrolytes for clients with continuing losses, for example, because of gastric suction or wound drainage.
Lactated Ringers, also an isotonic solution which is an alkalinizing solution that maybe given to treat metabolic acidosis. Acidifying solutions, in contrast, are administered to counteract metabolic alkalosis. An example of acidifying solutions is 0. 9 sodium chloride solution. An isotonic solution also serves as volume expander that is to increase the blood volume following severe loss of blood example from hemorrhage or loss of plasma like severe burns.
An isotonic solution has the same concentration of solutes as blood plasma. Isotonic solution such as NS or Normal saline and lactated Ringer’s initially remain in the vascular compartment, expanding vascular volume. Always assess client for possibilities of increased intracranial pressure, and hypervolemia.
Reference: 1. Kozier, Barbara. (2004). Fundamentals of Nursing. Prentice Hall. 2. A closer look at I. V Fluids. (2007). BNet. com. 03 February 2007. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3689/is_199810/ai_n8826281