Selecting IV fluids to manage fluid loss in crtically ill patients

Critically ill patients admitted to intensive care settings may need to be administered intravenous fluids – for example, to restore their blood pressure or replace lost blood. A crucial question arising in the management of these patients is which type of fluid to use. To decide which fluid is most appropriate and safest, nurses working in critical care need to understand how the different types of fluids act on the human body. This article describes the three main types of fluids (crystalloids, colloids and blood products), their composition, mode of action, indications and side-effects. We cannot share this article openly for copyright reasons.