NICE guidelines on intravenous fluids

R Shanmugam

Consultant in Anaesthetics & Intensive Care

Special Thanks to Dr Paul Jefferson

Your newly qualified F1 asks for advice on prescribing fluids for a patient for maintenance.

What would you recommend?

The same F1 has a hypovolaemic patient and wants advice on what fluids to give.

What would you recommend?

• PRHO responsible for prescribing iv fluids

• < 50% knew daily requirement of sodium • < 50% knew the sodium content of 0.9%

saline

“It is generally recognised throughout the NHS that little formal training relating to intravenous fluid therapy exists for healthcare professionals and this is true for both students and for professionals who are more established in their careers” 

Distribution of IV fluids

What resuscitation fluids?

Resuscitation fluids?

"Ask me my three main priorities for government, and I tell you…

education, education, education."

Tony BlairSpeech to party conference October 1996

• Intravenous fluid plans and prescriptions for 24 hours.

• Avoid excessive administration of sodium in maintenance iv fluids.