Information for patients and visitors
Intravenous Fluid Therapy for Adults in
Hospital
Medicines Information
Pharmacy
Clinical Support Services
This leaflet has been designed to
give you important information
about your condition / procedure,
and to answer some common
queries that you may have.
Information for patients and visitors
Introduction

If you have severe diarrhoea or vomiting
Intravenous (IV) fluid therapy is a way of
replacing fluids in the body by giving them
straight into the bloodstream. IV fluids can
contain water, electrolytes and glucose
(sometimes called salts and sugars). These
are given to stop people becoming
dehydrated and to make sure they have the
right amount of fluid, salts and sugars in their
body that they need.

If you are sweating very heavily
The information in this leaflet provides
information about the general use of IV fluids
in adult patients with a range of conditions
across different areas within the hospital.
This leaflet does not include specific
information relating to specialist conditions,
such as:

Pregnancy

Severe chronic kidney or liver disease

Diabetes

Burns

Brain injury or brain surgery

Situations where specialist drugs called
inotropes are required to support blood
circulation
Your healthcare team will consider your
symptoms, medical history, current fluid
levels in your body, your usual medication
and the results of tests to decide if you need
IV fluid therapy. How much fluid, salts and
sugars you need and how long you will need
IV fluid therapy for will depend on your
individual circumstances.
What are the benefits of IV fluids?
Receiving IV fluid therapy ensures you do
not become dehydrated.
The main symptom of dehydration is feeling
thirsty. If you do not receive enough fluid
you may experience other symptoms such as
not passing very much urine, having dark or
strong-smelling urine, having a dry or sticky
mouth, a coated (or furry) tongue and
cracked lips. You may also feel dizzy,
especially when you stand up, which could
cause some people to have a fall.
How are IV fluids given?
Why do I need IV fluid therapy?
To give fluids directly into the bloodstream, a
needle is put into your arm or hand and then
a small tube (called a cannula) is put into a
blood vein. This is sometimes called a drip.
People usually get the fluids, salts and
sugars they need through eating and
drinking, or sometimes through a feeding
tube. If you can’t get enough in this way, you
may need IV fluid therapy.
Where it is possible, IV fluid therapy should
be given during the day to prevent any
interruption to your sleep. However if you
are very poorly, IV fluid therapy may need to
be given overnight.
You may also need IV fluid therapy if you
have been involved in an accident, are about
to have a procedure, or have had surgery.
IV fluids are also needed if you are losing
fluids, salts or sugars quicker than your body
can replace them, for example:
If you need IV fluid therapy for a few days,
your cannula should be changed at least
every 72 hours. When you no longer need
IV fluid, it should be stopped as soon as
possible. Your cannula should be removed
Information for patients and visitors
completed when you no longer need IV fluid
therapy or any medication into your vein.

How long will I need IV fluid therapy for?

How will IV fluid therapy help me?
What are the risks of IV fluids
therapy?

Are there any side effects or risks? What
if I have a reaction during or after having
IV fluid?

What if I decide not to have IV fluid?

What tests will I need whilst I am having
IV fluid therapy?

Will the IV fluid affect the medication I
am taking?

Who should I speak to if I notice any of
the signs or symptoms listed in this
leaflet?

What do I do if I have problems passing
urine?
Whilst you are having IV fluid therapy you
should be monitored regularly ensure you
only receive the necessary amount and type
of IV fluid that is needed for your treatment.
This may include checking your urine output,
pulse, blood pressure and weight, and taking
blood and urine samples for testing.
If you receive too much IV fluid this could
cause you to have symptoms such as
swollen ankles, passing a lot of urine, and
feeling breathless, especially when lying flat.
There are risks associated with the use of a
cannula or ‘drip’ such as infection and
extravasation (where the IV fluid does not go
into a vein, and instead goes into the
surround tissue.
Questions to ask your healthcare
team about your IV fluid therapy
Your treatment and care may be provided by
a range of hospital professionals, such as
doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants.
All healthcare professionals that prescribe or
give IV fluids should be trained and assessed
regularly.
A member of your healthcare team should
discuss starting IV fluid therapy with you and
explain what will happen. You should have
the opportunity to ask any questions you
have.
Here are some questions you might like to
ask your healthcare team:

Why have you decided that I need IV
fluid?

What does having IV fluid involve?
All the details about your IV fluid therapy and
the assessments you need to have should be
detailed in your medical records.
What are the alternatives to IV fluid
therapy?
IV fluid therapy is only considered when
someone is not able to receive adequate
fluid, salts and sugars through the oral route.
If it is likely that someone will need IV fluid
therapy for a longer period of time,
alternatives such as specially formulated
feeds given feeding tubes (for example,
through the nose) may be considered.
The healthcare professionals involved with
your care will be able to provide more details
of the different options that are available to
you.
Reference Section
Information for the Public: Intravenous fluid
therapy for adults in hospital. NICE 2013
Information for patients and visitors
Clinical Guideline 174: Intravenous fluid
therapy for adults in hospital. NICE
December 2013.
Date of issue: July, 2015
Concerns and Queries
IFP-872
If you have any concerns / queries about any
of the services offered by the Trust, in the
first instance, please speak to the person
providing your care.
© NLGFT 2015
For Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital
Alternatively you can contact the Patient
Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on
(01472) 875403 or at the PALS office which
is situated near the main entrance.
For Scunthorpe General Hospital
Alternatively you can contact the Patient
Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on
(01724) 290132 or at the PALS office which
situated on C Floor.
Alternatively you can email:
[email protected]
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS
Foundation Trust
Diana Princess of Wales Hospital
Scartho Road
Grimsby
01472 874111
Scunthorpe General Hospital
Cliff Gardens
Scunthorpe
01724 282282
Goole & District Hospital
Woodland Avenue
Goole
01405 720720
www.nlg.nhs.uk
Review Period: July, 2018
Author: Pharmacist Clinical Teams Manager