Question

What are the differences between maintenance, replacement and resuscitation fluids?

Answer 1

Fluid therapy is a medical practice that is done to maintain or replenish the fluids in the body of patients. It is of various types based on the condition of the patient.

Maintenance fluid: Maintenance fluid is usually given to the patient during anesthesia or sickness to maintaining the normal fluid balance. Maintenance fluid is given to patients that are unable to eat or drink. However, the patients should not water depletion, ongoing losses, or hypotension.

Replacement fluid: It is given to the patient when the patient has lost body fluids and electrolytes. It includes isotonic polyionic replacement crystalloids like LRS (Lactated Ringe’s Solution). An electrolyte imbalance may occur in patients having renal diseases. They can be administered orally, by intravenous therapy, by hypodermoclysis, or rectally.

Resuscitation fluids: Resuscitation refers to the correction of physiological disorders like breathing or heart problem in patients with acute illness. When body fluid is lost through sweating, fluid shifts, bleeding, or by other pathologic processes, resuscitation fluid is administered. It includes an isotonic crystalline solution that replenishes intravascular volumes such as Ringer’s lactate and colloid solution that are given at the time of hemorrhage.