FRAME 75
Maintenance therapy is designed to meet the
ordinary fluid and electrolyte requirements of
patients who have a restricted oral intake, but who
are without extra losses caused by vomiting,
diarrhea, or other stress. In short, maintenance
therapy is designed to replace the fluids and
electrolytes lost during a normal day.
FRAME 76
Few solutions can be used alone as maintenance
solutions because the body requires a specified
number of certain electrolytes each day. Most
solutions contain only a limited number of
electrolytes. For example, 0.9% Sodium Chloride
Solution contains 154 mEq of sodium and 154 mEq
of chloride in each 1,000 milliliters. 5% Dextrose
Solution contains approximately 170 calories per
liter of solution. Observe that the sodium chloride
solution contains only sodium and chloride ions,
while the dextrose solution contains absolutely no
electrolytes. Lactated Ringer's injection contains
130 mEq of sodium, 109 mEq of chloride, 3 mEq of
calcium, 28 mEq of lactate, and 4 mEq of
potassium in each liter of the solution. Although
more electrolytes are contained in the Lactated
Ringer's injection, the amount of each electrolyte
supplied is usually below that amount the patient
needs each day.
MD0807
5-25