What is meant by fluid balance?

What is meant by fluid balance?

Fluid balance is a term used to describe the balance of input and output of fluids in the body, to allow metabolic processes to function properly. Alternatively an ‘overload’ may occur as a result of poor cardiac or renal function, or excessive fluid intake orally or IV.

What is a fluid balance chart used for?

Fluid balance charts The aim of a fluid balance chart is to keep an accurate record of a patient’s fluid input and output and to identify any deficits. It is important to identify which patients require a fluid balance chart and to hand this over to staff between shifts.

What is the importance of fluid balance in the body?

Maintenance of an adequate fluid balance is vital to health. Inadequate fluid intake or excessive fluid loss can lead to dehydration, which in turn can affect cardiac and renal function and electrolyte management. Inadequate urine production can lead to volume overload, renal failure and electrolyte toxicity.

What regulates fluid balance in the body?

Body fluids are mainly water and electrolytes, and the three main organs that regulate fluid balance are the brain, the adrenal glands and the kidneys (Tortora and Grabowski, 2002).

What is normal intake and output?

The average adult intake is 2500-3000mL. Per day. The average output is 2500-3000mL.

What is a normal fluid balance?

In the US, the reference daily intake (RDI) for water is 3.7 litres per day (l/day) for human males older than 18, and 2.7 l/day for human females older than 18 including water contained in food, beverages, and drinking water.

When is a person in a state of fluid balance?

When the amount of fluid lost from the body is equal to the amount of fluid taken in, the body is in fluid balance. Fluid in our body is found within the body cells (intracellular), surrounding the cells (interstitial) and within the blood vessels (intravascular).

What do you need to know about fluid balance?

What is Fluid Balance? Fluid balance, also known as fluid homeostasis, describes the balancing of the body’s fluid input and output levels to prevent the fluid concentration from changing (Payne 2017; Bannerman 2018).

What should junior doctor know about fluid management?

Fluid Management. Fluid management is a major part of junior doctor prescribing; whether working on a surgical firm with a patient who is nil-by-mouth or with a dehydrated patient on a care of the elderly firm, this is a topic that a junior doctor utilises on a regular basis.

When did Nursing Times start measuring fluid balance?

Shepherd A (2011) Measuring and managing fluid balance. Nursing Times; 107: 28, early online publication.

Why is fluid management important in peri-operative care?

Ensuring considered fluid and haemodynamic management is central to peri-operative patient care and has been shown to have a significant impact on post-operative morbidity and the length of hospital stay. Hence it is essential to gain a firm understanding of the physiology of fluid balance and the compositions of each fluid being prescribed.