++
Regulation of the amount of liquid in the body. A negative fluid balance (fluid deficit) may occur when fluids are lost by vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, or diaphoresis. Fluid overload may result from the excessive administration of intravenous fluids, or in diseases marked by impaired fluid excretion, such as congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, or kidney failure. SEE: dehydration; diuresis; fluid replacement; and entries beginning with the words fluid volume.
++
Treatment of fluid imbalances depends on the cause; the patient’s cardiac, renal, and hepatic function; measured serum electrolytes; and acid-base balance.
++
Useful means of gauging changes in fluid balance are 1) measurement of fluid inputs and outputs; or 2) measurement of day-to-day variations in body weight.
++
The resuscitation of a hypovolemic or hypotensive patient with oral, intravenous, or intraosseous liquids, typically crystalloid or colloid solutions.
+++
fluidextract, fluid extract
++
(floo″ĭd-ek′strakt″) [fluid + extract] A solution of the soluble constituents of vegetable drugs in which each cubic centimeter or milliliter represents 1 g of the drug. Fluidextracts contain alcohol as a solvent or preservative. Many of them form precipitates when water is added.
++
(floo′ĭd-īzd″) The use of small solid particles suspended within moving air to treat pain, decrease hypersensitivity in extremities, or prevent or treat pressure sores.
++
(floo″ĭd-ō-thĕr′ă-pē) [″ + ″] ABBR: fl. oz. The application of warmed cellulose particles suspended in forced dry air to heat an injured or painful body part, esp. prior to muscle strengthening or range-of-motion exercises.
++
(floo′ĭd owns′) ABBR: fl.oz. An apothecaries’ measure of fluid volume, equal to 8 fluidrams or 29.57 mL. SYN: ounce (3).
++
(floo″ĭ-drăm′) An apothecary’s measure of fluid volume, equal to 3.697 ml.
++
Administration of liquids to a patient by any route to correct volume and electrolyte deficits. The deficit may be physiological, as when a ballplayer sweats excessively without rehydrating on a hot day. It may be pathological, as in traumatic or septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, severe vomiting or diarrhea or both. It may be metabolic, as in diabetic ketosis or adrenal insufficiency. SEE: intravenous infusion for illus; central venous catheter; central line; intravenous infusion; oral rehydration therapy; solution.
++
The goal of fluid replacement is to correct electrolyte, fluid and acid-base imbalances. The oral route of replacement is used if possible. Intravenous, intraosseous, intraperitoneal, or subcutaneous routes are also used; the intravenous route is most common. Fluids may be isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic; they may contain certain crystalloids (such as sodium, potassium, chloride, or calcium); they may contain osmotically active substances (such as glucose, protein, ...