Summary and Basics of Fluid Balance in General Surgery and Medicine
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FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES
Dr. Ahsan Shafiq
FCPS Surgical Oncology
Assistant Professor
Shalamar Hospital Lahore
PYRAMID POINTS
•Maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance
•Description of the common fluid and electrolyte
imbalances
•Causes of common fluid and electrolyte
imbalances
•Assessment of common fluid and electrolyte
imbalances
•Treatment and evaluation of response to
treatment for common fluid and electrolyte
imbalances
MAINTAINING FLUID AND
ELECTROLYTE BALANCE
•DESCRIPTION
–Homeostasis is a term that indicates the
relative stability of the internal environment
–Concentration and composition of body fluids
must be nearly constant
MAINTAINING FLUID AND
ELECTROLYTE BALANCE
•DESCRIPTION
–In the client, when one of the substances—
fluids or electrolytes—is deficient, it must be
replaced either normally by the intake of food
and water or by therapy such as IVs and/or
medications
–When the client has an excess of fluid or
electrolytes, therapy is directed towards
assisting the body to eliminate the excess
MAINTAINING FLUID AND
ELECTROLYTE BALANCE
•Kidneys
–Play a major role in controlling all types of
balance in fluid and electrolytes
•Adrenal glands
–Through the secretion of aldosterone, the
adrenal glands also aid in controlling
extracellular fluid volume by regulating the
amount of sodium reabsorbed by the kidneys
•Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
–ADH from the pituitary gland regulates the
osmotic pressure of extracellular fluid by
regulating the amount of water reabsorbed by
the kidney
FLUID VOLUME DEFICIT
•DESCRIPTION
–Dehydration in which the body’s fluid intake is
not sufficient to meet the body’s fluid needs
–The goal of treatment is to restore fluid
volume, replace electrolytes as needed, and
eliminate the cause of the fluid volume deficit
FLUID VOLUME DEFICIT
•CAUSES
–Isotonic dehydration
•Inadequate intake of fluids and solutes
•Fluid shifts between compartments
•Excessive losses of isotonic body fluids
–Hypertonic dehydration
•Conditions that increase fluid loss such as
excessive perspiration, hyperventilation,
ketoacidosis, prolonged fevers, diarrhea,
early-stage renal failure, and diabetes
insipidus
FLUID VOLUME DEFICIT
•ASSESSMENT
–Cardiovascular
•Thready, increased pulse rate
•Decreased blood pressure and postural
hypotension
•Flat neck and hand veins in dependent
positions
•Diminished peripheral pulses
FLUID VOLUME DEFICIT
•ASSESSMENT
–Respiratory
•Increased rate and depth of respirations
–Neuromuscular
•Decreased central nervous system activity
from lethargy to coma
•Fever
–Renal
•Decreased urinary output
•Increased specific gravity
FLUID VOLUME DEFICIT
•ASSESSMENT
–Integumentary
•Dry and scaly skin
•Poor turgor, tenting present
•Dry and fissured mouth, paste-like coating
present
FLUID VOLUME DEFICIT
•IMPLEMENTATION
–Monitor cardiovascular, respiratory,
neuromuscular, renal, integumentary, and GI
status
–Prevent further fluid losses and increase fluid
compartment volumes to normal ranges
–Provide oral rehydration therapy if possible; IV
fluid replacement if the dehydration is severe
FLUID VOLUME DEFICIT
•IMPLEMENTATION
–Generally, isotonic dehydration is treated with
isotonic fluid solutions; hypertonic
dehydration with hypotonic fluid solutions;
and hypotonic dehydration with hypertonic
fluid solutions
–Administer medications as prescribed to
correct the cause
–Administer oxygen as prescribed
–Monitor electrolyte values and prepare to
administer medication to treat an imbalance if
present
FLUID VOLUME EXCESS
•DESCRIPTION
–Fluid intake or fluid retention exceeds the
body’s fluid needs
–Also called overhydration or fluid overload
–The goal of treatment is to restore fluid
balance, correct electrolyte imbalances if
present, and eliminate or control the
underlying cause of the overload
FLUID VOLUME EXCESS
•CAUSES
–Hypotonic overhydration
•Early renal failure
•Congestive heart failure
•Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic
hormone
•Poorly controlled IV therapy
•Replacement of isotonic fluid loss with
hypotonic fluids
•Irrigation of wounds and body cavities with
hypotonic fluids
FLUID VOLUME EXCESS
•ASSESSMENT
–Cardiovascular
•Bounding, increased pulse rate
•Peripheral pulses full
•Elevated blood pressure; decreased pulse
pressure
•Elevated central venous pressure
•Distended neck and hand veins
•Engorged venous varicosities
FLUID VOLUME EXCESS
•IMPLEMENTATION
–Monitor cardiovascular, respiratory,
neuromuscular, integumentary, and GI status
–Administer diuretics; osmotic diuretics are
typically prescribed first to prevent severe
electrolyte imbalances
–Restrict fluid and sodium intake
–Monitor I&O and weight
–Monitor electrolyte values and prepare to
administer medication to treat an imbalance if
present