Fluid Balance in An Acute Hospital Setting
In an acute hospital setting, fluid balance is monitored carefully. This provides information on the patient's state of hydration, renal function and cardiovascular function.
- If fluid loss is greater than fluid gain (for example if the patient vomits and has diarrhoea), the patient is said to be in negative fluid balance. In this case, fluid is often given intravenously to compensate for the loss.
- On the other hand, a positive fluid balance (where fluid gain is greater than fluid loss) might suggest a problem with either the renal or cardiovascular system.
If blood pressure is low (hypotension), the filtration rate in the kidneys will lessen, causing less fluid reabsorption and thus less urine output.
An accurate measure of fluid balance is therefore an important diagnostic tool, and allows for prompt intervention to correct the imbalance.
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