Choosing Between Colloids and Crystalloids for IV Infusion
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Copyright EMAP Publishing 2017 This article is not for distribution Nursing Practice Keywords Fluid resuscitation/‘5Rs’/ Crystalloids/Colloids Review This article has been Intravenous therapy double-blind peer reviewed In this article... ● Guidance on intravenous fluid therapy ● Parameters that may indicate the need for fluid resuscitation ● Compared risks and benefits of colloids and crystalloids Choosing between colloids and crystalloids for IV infusion Key points Author Lisa Smith is senior lecturer in emergency and urgent care at the University The loss of of Cumbria. circulating fluid volume can lead to Abstract Hypovolaemia resulting from illness or trauma can precipitate imbalances imbalances in in homoeostasis due to the loss of circulating fluid volume. By addressing homoeostasis hypovolaemia, homoeostasis can be restored, preventing hypoperfusion and subsequent organ dysfunction. Administering intravenous fluids can replace any lost Recognising, circulating volume. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence outlines five assessing and ‘Rs’ of fluid therapy: resuscitation, routine maintenance, replacement, redistribution monitoring patients’ and reassessment. This article provides an overview of fluid therapy, covering the need for fluid NICE guidance and clarifying the differences between crystalloids and colloids, and therapy is crucial when to use them. The ‘5Rs’ of Citation Smith L (2017) Choosing between colloids and crystalloids for IV infusion. intravenous fluid Nursing Times [online]; 113: 12, 20-23. administration are: resuscitation, routine o maintain its finely tuned essential. The National Institute for Health maintenance, homoeostasis, the human adult and Care Excellence’s (2017) guidance on IV replacement, body needs an average daily fluid fluid therapy in adults in hospital stresses redistribution and Tintake of 2.5-3 litres (Moore and the need for health professionals to under- reassessment Cunningham, 2017). It also requires a con- stand the physiology of fluid and electro- stant balance in the levels of nutrients, lyte balance. It also outlines five ‘Rs’ of Crystalloids and oxygen and water to preserve a stable fluid administration (Box 1). However, colloids, both internal environment (Moini, 2016). This there are many fluid replacement products plasma volume balance can be easily altered by illness or available and it is not always clear which expanders, are used injury, resulting in a loss of one or all of one should be used. to increase depleted these elements. This can lead to dehydra- This article provides an overview of the circulating volumes tion, hypoperfusion leading to reduced NICE guidance, highlighting what it oxygen uptake, and organ dysfunction, so means for health professionals adminis- To administer redressing the imbalance is essential. tering IV fluids. It also sheds light on the intravenous fluids, A reduction in oral fluid intake, the differences between crystalloid and colloid health professionals redistribution of fluid in the vascular solutions, and gives practical guidance on must understand spaces and a decreased circulating volume when each one should be used. what crystalloids need to be managed. Intravenous fluid and colloids do and therapy is one way of managing reduced Physiology when to use them fluid intake by reducing its effects and For effective tissue and organ perfusion, replacing lost fluids. maintenance of finely balanced levels of Recognising the signs and symptoms of oxygen, fluid and electrolytes (homoeo- fluid loss is necessary to identify the need stasis) is essential. Fluid volumes need to for fluid administration. Knowledge of be distributed into the intracellular and when to administer IV fluids, what type of extracellular spaces (the latter being fur- fluid to administer, and why they are all ther divided into the interstitial and Nursing Times [online] December 2017 / Vol 113 Issue 12 20 www.nursingtimes.net Copyright EMAP Publishing 2017 This article is not for distribution Nursing Practice Review intravascular compartments). The move- Box 1. Five ‘Rs’ of intravenous affect patients’ cardiac performance ment of fluid between these spaces is con- fluid administration causing arrhythmias, heart failure and/or tinual. This enables cells to receive their cardiac arrest. If continued fluid loss is necessary supply of electrolytes such as ● Resuscitation suspected, this should be checked and sodium, potassium and carbon. Along ● Routine maintenance losses monitored. with oxygen, these are fundamental for ● Replacement cell performance (Peate and Nair, 2016). ● Redistribution Redistribution Homoeostasis is easily affected by any ● Reassessment Redistribution of fluid can occur in critical insult to the body, be it from illness, injury, Source: National Institute for Health and Care illness. Fluid is lost from the circulatory trauma or medication. This imbalance can Excellence (2017) volume and moves into the tissues; this is quickly lead to worsening illness and/or called ‘third space loss’ (Frost, 2015). This impede recovery. Hypovolaemia will may be seen in patients with cardiac reduce the circulating fluid volumes, cause of any potential fluid loss. Finding failure, renal failure or sepsis, and oedema resulting in reduced electrolyte and and treating that cause, along with the may be present. To manage these patients oxygen supply to the cells. A large reduc- administration of fluid therapy, is essential effectively, increased monitoring, further tion in fluid volume can result in hypovol- to rule out refractory fluid loss. If not assessment and investigations are needed. aemic shock. Patients who go into hypo- addressed, this persistent loss of circulating In some cases, specialist intervention, volaemic shock need fluid resuscitation to volume could lead to: such as the monitoring of central venous maintain their cardiac output and organ ● The need for further fluid resuscitation; pressure, kidney function tests or high perfusion. ● Increased volumes of fluid dependency care, may be required. requirements; NICE guidance ● In severe cases, debilitating illness Reassessment NICE’s (2017) guidance on IV fluid therapy or death. Regular reassessment of patients’ fluid indicates that the assessment of patients NICE (2017) recommends a bolus of therapy needs is essential. In those who should include: 500ml of crystalloid solution (containing require ongoing fluid therapy for three or ● Physical examination; sodium in the range of 130-154mmol/L) more days, the enteral routes of adminis- ● Observation of vital signs over time; over less than 15 minutes in patients tration should be considered (NICE, 2017). ● Clinical presentation. requiring fluid resuscitation; this should Enteral routes reduce the need for IV access It also provides a set of parameters that be avoided for those who have any evi- and, in doing so, reduce the risks of may indicate that a patient needs fluid dence of pulmonary oedema as a result of ongoing IV therapy, such as catheter- resuscitation (Box 2). cardiac failure (Frost, 2015). This initial related infections. The parameters highlight the impor- fluid resuscitation should be followed by a tance of assessing patients’ fluid and elec- reassessment. If further fluid resuscitation Types of fluids trolyte balance. This involves ascertaining is required, then fluid boluses of 250- Crystalloids their history of fluid intake and any com- 500ml should be given. Patients needing Crystalloid solutions are isotonic plasma plaints of thirst. Consideration should also continuous boluses of up to 2L will need volume expanders that contain electro- be given to the likelihood of insensible further medical review. lytes. They can increase the circulatory fluid loss – for example, from altered bowel volume without altering the chemical bal- function such as diarrhoea, or injuries Routine maintenance ance in the vascular spaces. This is due to such as burns. Comorbidities such as dia- Routine maintenance fluids are needed in their isotonic properties, meaning their betes and cardiovascular disease can also patients who are at ongoing risk of fluid components are close to those of blood lead to fluid and electrolyte imbalances. loss. Reasons for this could be poor fluid circulating in the body. The monitoring of vital signs, along intake, recent surgery, bowel dysfunction Crystalloid solutions are mainly used to with the assessment of jugular venous and other comorbidities. Clinical exami- increase the intravascular volume when it pressure and observation for possible nation, investigations, vital signs is reduced. This reduction could be caused oedema and postural hypotension, can monitoring (including fluid balance and by haemorrhage, dehydration or loss of help identify abnormalities in patients’ weight measurements) can all help to fluid during surgery. fluid and electrolyte balance. The National determine a patient’s need for routine Early Warning Score (NEWS) and fluid bal- maintenance fluids. Box 2. Parameters for fluid ance and weight charts are essential tools. resuscitation Additional tests such as full blood count Replacement and urea and electrolytes can confirm the Ongoing assessment of patients’ fluid bal- ● Systolic blood pressure: <100mmHg need for IV fluid therapy (NICE, 2017). ance is paramount. Assessment should ● Heart rate: >90 beats per minute focus on: ● Capillary refill: >2 seconds or The ‘5Rs’ of fluid resuscitation ● Ensuring adequate hydration; peripheries cool to touch Resuscitation ● Ensuring electrolyte balance;