Question

Explain why hospitals use 5% dextrose and normal saline as IV infusions.

A) To increase blood pressure
B) To provide energy
C) To maintain electrolyte balance
D) To reduce inflammation

Answer 1

Hospitals use 5% dextrose to provide energy and normal saline to maintain electrolyte balance and increase blood pressure when necessary. Both are isotonic to maintain fluid balance and prevent cellular damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hospitals typically use 5% dextrose and normal saline as intravenous (IV) infusions for multiple purposes. These solutions serve to maintain electrolyte balance and provide a source of energy to patients who might not be able to consume food or fluids normally due to illness or surgery. Specifically, 5% dextrose is a simple sugar solution that can supply energy, while normal saline, which is isotonic with respect to body fluids, replaces lost fluids and minerals without causing cell shrinkage or swelling, thereby maintaining a healthy fluid balance. It is important that the solutions are isotonic to avoid the harmful movement of water into or out of the body's cells, which can disrupt vital processes.

Normal saline also effectively increases blood pressure when it is needed, as in the case of someone with low blood pressure due to dehydration or blood loss. This is because the additional fluid volume in the bloodstream expands the blood volume, thereby increasing systemic arterial pressure. Dextrose, on the other hand, does not contribute to inflammation reduction or has a direct effect on blood pressure; its primary function is to provide energy in the form of glucose to the body's cells.