CRYSTALLOIDS AND COLLOIDS FOR FLUID REPLACEMENT

fluids used to replenish lost fluids in the patients body

1. INTRAVENOUS FLUIDS
INTRODUCTION
Are chemically prepared solutions that are administered to the
patient.
Used to replace lost fluid and/or aid in the delivery of IV medications.

2. Types of IV fluids
Come in four different forms;
Colloids
Crystalloids
Blood and blood products
O2 – carrying solutions

3. Colloid solutions:
Contain solutes in the form of large proteins

Increase a patients blood volume
Their expense and specific storage requirements limit their
use in the pre-hospital setting
Are also expensive
Commonly used colloid solutions include
-Plasma protein fraction
-Salt poor albumin
-Dextran
-Hetastarch

4. Crystalloid solutions:
Contain electrolytes e.g. sodium,potassium,calcium,chloride.
Lack large proteins and molecules
Its tonicity describes the concentrations of electrolytes [solutes] dissolved in the
water as compared with that of body plasma.
 I.e. Isotonic - electrolytes concentration= electrolyte in plasma
 Hypertonic - electrolytes concentration> electrolytes in plasma
 Hypotonic - electrolyte concentration< electrolytes in plasma

5. Examples:
 Isotonic solutions include – Lactated Ringers
[LR]
normal saline solutions [0.9%Nacl in sterile
water NSS]
5% Dextrose in water [D5W]
LR and NSS used for fluid replacement
because of their ability to expand the volume
of circulating blood.

6. Calculating maintenance fluid
rates
The formula method:
(100mls for each of the first 10kgs) + (50mls
for each 11-20 kgs) + (20mls for each
additional kg)/24 hours
The 4-2-1 method
(4mls/kg for the first 10kgs) + (2mls/kg for 11-
20kgs) +(1ml/kg for every kg above 20kgs)