FATMA
FATMA
FATMA
Nursing Department
First Stage
04. Administration.
06. Monitoring.
07. Contraindications.
08. References.
1
01 INTRODUCTION TO NORMAL SALINE SOLUTION.
2
02 WHAT IS SALINE SOLUTION USED FOR?
Saline is often used in the medical field to clean wounds, clear out sinuses, and treat
dehydration. However, it can also play an important part in caring for your eyes and
contact lenses.
03 MECHANISM OF ACTION.
3
04 ADMINISTRATION
Normal saline solution can be administered only via intravenous access. When deciding
dosage, the provider must take into account various patient factors (e.g., weight, age,
clinical presentation, laboratory findings). Therefore, monitoring should focus on
laboratory results and clinical evaluation (see ‘Monitoring’ section). Naturally, there
are two methods of administration for normal saline:
Fluid bolus
This route is normally used in the acute care setting when a rapid infusion of fluids is
necessary (e.g., hypovolemia). Delivery of fluid should be administered through
large-bore peripheral lines or via central-line access.
Maintenance
The calculation of daily fluid requirements is achievable in various ways. Common
practices utilize the formulas created by Drs. Holliday and Segar which indicate that
one can use the "100-50-25" or "4-2-1" rules.
Example:
For a 50 kg patient
First 10 kg weight = 1000 mL (100 mL/kg x 10)
Second 10 kg weight = 500 mL (50 mL/kg x 10)
Remaining 30 kg weight = 750 mL (25 mL/kg x 30)
Total = 2250 mL/day or 94 mL/hr
4
05 ADVERSE EFFECTS
The use of normal saline can contribute to iatrogenic fluid overload. This complication
is particularly concerning in patients with impaired kidney function (acute kidney
injury, chronic kidney disease, etc.), and these patients should, therefore, receive
treatment with judicious use of intravenous fluids.
Patients with congestive heart failure are at an increased risk for detrimental effects of
normal saline administration. In these patients, fluid overload is a considerable concern;
this can lead to life-threatening pulmonary edema and the worsening of diastolic or
systolic heart failure, leading to end-organ damage or even death. It is vital for the
clinician to monitor these patients carefully and to administer the minimum required
volume to maintain homeostasis.
Adverse effects of normal saline may occur secondary to solution or technique of
administration. These effects include febrile response, infection at the site of injection,
venous thrombosis or phlebitis extending from the site of injection, extravasation, and
hypervolemia. Additionally, if infusing normal saline in large quantities, chloride ions
will be vastly increased within the blood. This influx of hyperchlorhydria causes an
intracellular shift of bicarbonate ions to allow for equilibria. Overall, this decreases the
number of bicarbonate ions available for buffering. Due to the net acidosis, this
physiological change will also cause an increase in serum potassium levels due to the
transcellular shift of potassium from within the cell into the extracellular space.
While the overuse of 0.45% sodium chloride can cause hyponatremia and cerebral
edema, this is due to its hypotonic nature, creating a migration of water molecules into
areas of higher sodium concentration.
Therefore, if an adverse effect does occur, discontinuation of the infusion is strongly
suggested. The patient should then undergo a clinical evaluation and the proper
therapeutic countermeasures engaged. All while, the remainder of the fluid should be
saved for examination if contamination is suspected.
5
06 MONITORING
When monitoring the use of normal saline, there must be periodic assessments of the
patient’s clinical and laboratory findings. Specifically, one must observe any changes in
electrolyte concentrations, volume status, and acid-base disturbances. Significant
deviations from normal concentrations may require tailoring of the electrolyte pattern
in these or alternative solutions.
Patients require evaluation for signs and symptoms of dehydration and fluid overload.
Patients with elevated lactate and creatinine concentration are signs that they may not
be receiving an adequate amount of volume. Also, the patient's volume status is
assessable by monitoring urine output. Ideally, a urine output target of 0.5 mL/kg/hr
indicates adequate hydration but may not be useful to determine volume status in
patients with renal impairment. In such a case, providers must utilize other objective
findings to evaluate fluid status (e.g., orthostatic, physical examination).
Patients at high risk of developing fluid overload should receive frequent re-evaluation,
especially patients with known cardiopulmonary diseases. Signs and symptoms of fluid
overload can undergo an evaluation with a comprehensive physical exam. Clinicians
should investigate for pulmonary edema (e.g., new or worsening crackles on lung
exam), as well as any new or worsening peripheral edema in the extremities.
Additionally, the infusion of more than one liter of isotonic (0.9%) sodium chloride per
day may supply more sodium and chloride than physiological levels, which can lead to
hypernatremia, as well as hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. Therefore, patients
receiving large volumes of normal saline require monitoring for electrolyte imbalances.
To minimize the risk of possible contaminations, the final solution should be inspected
for ambiguity or precipitation immediately after mixing, before administration, and
periodically during administration.
6
07 CONTRAINDICATIONS
Contraindications for the use of normal saline are evaluated clinically from patient to
patient. If the implementation of normal saline results in dilution of serum electrolyte
concentrations, over hydration, congested states, or pulmonary edema, then its use is
strongly discouraged.
07 REFERENCES
01. Chang R, Holcomb JB. Choice of Fluid Therapy in the Initial Management of
Sepsis, Severe Sepsis, and Septic Shock. Shock. 2016 Jul;46(1):17-26. [PMC free
article] [PubMed]
02. Neyra JA, Canepa-Escaro F, Li X, Manllo J, Adams-Huet B, Yee J, Yessayan L.,
Acute Kidney Injury in Critical Illness Study Group. Association of
Hyperchloremia With Hospital Mortality in Critically Ill Septic Patients. Crit Care
Med. 2015 Sep;43(9):1938-44. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
03. https://www.warbyparker.com/learn/what-is-saline-
solution#:~:text=Saline%20is%20often%20used%20in,for%20your%20eyes%20an
d%20contacts.
04. Raghunathan K, Shaw AD, Bagshaw SM. Fluids are drugs: type, dose and
toxicity. Curr Opin Crit Care. 2013 Aug;19(4):290-8. [PubMed
05. Boyd JH, Forbes J, Nakada TA, Walley KR, Russell JA. Fluid resuscitation in
septic shock: a positive fluid balance and elevated central venous pressure are
associated with increased mortality. Crit Care Med. 2011 Feb;39(2):259-65.
[PubMed]