The intravenous fluid shortage continues to hinder hospitals nationwide.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the University of Utah Drug Information Service have compiled a fact sheet offering strategies for clinicians to help conserve IV fluids and saline solutions.
Here are six selected strategies on conserving IV fluid solutions.
1. When possible, use oral hydration.
2. Evaluate each patient's need to continue IV fluid therapy, at least once a shift, and accordingly discontinue infusions whenever appropriate.
3. Consider flushing central venous access devices one to three times a week instead of daily.
4. Consider deferring elective procedures and surgeries requiring solutions that are in short supply.
5. Stock large-volume bags of IV solution only in critical care areas where fluids are a necessary component of emergency supplies and stock smaller volume bags in other supply areas.
6. Communicate with distributors frequently to have a sense of product allocation and shipment dates.
For more tips and strategies to conserve IV solution, access the full fact sheet here. The fact sheet also offers tables comparing different IV fluids, recommended container volumes based on infusion rates and considerations for reserving products for certain clinical situations.
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