Intravenous fluid therapy

This page is for adult patients. For pediatric patients, see: Intravenous fluid therapy (peds) and critical care quick reference

for bolus doses by weight

Background

Composition of Different Intravenous Fluids

Fluid	Osm	Na	Cl	Glucose(g/L)	pH	Buffer	K	Ca	Mg
Plasma	289	140	103		7.4	HCO3 22-32	4	5	2
Normal Saline (NS)	308	154	154	0	5.0	0	0	0	0
D5NS	560	154	154	50			0	0	0
Lactated Ringers	273	130	109	0	6.5	Lactate 28	4	3	0
Plasmalyte	295	140	98	0	5.0	Gluconate 23/Acetate 27	5	0	3
D5 1/2NS	406	77	77	500	4.5	0	0	0	0
D5W	252	0	0	50
5% Albumin	309	130-160	130-160		6.4-7.4		<1

Total Body Water

• Total Body Water (TBW) = 0.6 x weight (kg)
  • Of which, 2/3 is intracellular and 1/3 extracellular
    • 1/4 of extracellular is vascular

Acute Repletion (Bolus)

• Typically 20-mL/kg aliquots of isotonic (e.g., NS or LR) fluid

Maintenance Fluids

• Insensible losses = 300-400 cc/m2/d
• Adult Standard: D5 0.45%NS at 75-125 mL/hr + 20meq/L of KCl
• Deficit: % dehydration x baseline weight
• Daily volume needed = maintenance + deficit - fluid already given (i.e. boluses)
  • Hourly rate daily volume/24 hr
    • (or correct 1/2 of deficit in first 8 hr, remainder in next 16)

Electrolytes

• Maintenance Na = 3 mEq/kg/d; K = 2 mEq/kg/d
• Deficit = [desired - measured mEq/L] x fD x wt (kg)
• fD (distribution factor) Na = 0.6, K = 0.6, Cl = 0.2-0.3, HCO3 = 0.5
• (Maintenance + deficit)/daily volume = concentration of electrolyte in fluid to be given
• 4mL/kg of H2O lost, ups Na by 1meq

See Also

• Critical care quick reference
• Vascular access
• Electrolyte abnormalities

Calculators

Maintenance Fluids (4-2-1 Rule)

Maintenance IV Fluids (4-2-1 Rule)

Parameter	Value
Patient Weight (kg)
Maintenance Rate
Hourly Rate	mL/hr
Daily Volume	mL/day

References
Holliday MA, Segar WE. The maintenance need for water in parenteral fluid therapy. Pediatrics. 1957;19(5):823-832. PMID 13431307. 4-2-1 Rule: 4 mL/kg/hr for first 10 kg + 2 mL/kg/hr for next 10 kg + 1 mL/kg/hr for each kg above 20 kg.

External Links

• MDCalc maintenance fluids
• http://www.aliem.com/paucis-verbis-composition-of-intravenous-fluids/