Short Term Fluid Replacement After Trauma

Overview

Short term fluid replacement after trauma refers to the fluid that is given intravenously during resuscitation. Trauma patients often lose a lot of blood and bodily fluids. It is important to give the patient short term fluid replacement as it helps to replace the blood loss, restore adequate tissue perfusion, correct electrolyte derangements, correct dehydration and prevent the patient from going into hypovolemic shock. The intravenous fluids can be divided into crystalloids and colloids. Examples of crystalloid intravenous fluids that can be given for a short term fluid replacement are normal saline which is an isotonic solution that contains sodium and chloride and Ringer's lactate solution. Examples of colloids are albumin, dextran, and blood. However, crystalloids are more widely used compared to colloids. Before starting the short term fluid replacement, it is important to know which fluid to give, how much fluid to give and when to give.