Question

You have a patient that has nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea over the last couple of days. The doctor orders a fluid that is isotonic. What would you give the patient?

1) .9
2) .45
3) 3
4) 2

Answer 1

An isotonic solution such as normal saline or lactated Ringer's solution is recommended for intravenous administration to patients with dehydration symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Isotonic fluids are essential to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance and avoid red blood cell damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient presents with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea and is suspected to be dehydrated, an isotonic solution such as normal saline or lactated Ringer's solution is commonly administered intravenously. These solutions are isotonic, meaning they have the same concentration of solutes as the blood, preventing any further imbalance in fluid transfer between the patient's blood cells and the surrounding plasma. An isotonic solution is crucial to ensure that red blood cells maintain their integrity and are not destroyed by osmotic pressure changes, which would occur if a hypo- or hypertonic solution were mistakenly used.

In cases where a patient has been suffering from chronic watery diarrhea for an extended period, a blood test might reveal dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Treatment aims at correcting these imbalances and dehydration. The intravenous administration of isotonic fluids is a pivotal part of managing severe cases of gastroenteritis, where an oral rehydration solution might not suffice.