Preferred fluid in a poly-traumatic patient with shock?
Ans. (b) Normal salineRef.-.Harrison 18th ed. / 270Normal saline is the preferred fluid for volume expansion in a crashing patient with un-recordable BP. The main point to be noted is that if ringer lactate is infused in these patients, then lactate in the solution will never reach the liver where it is normally converted into bicarbonate. Hence the accumulated lactate will get broken into lactic acid that will worsen the status of patient of poly-trauma who is already acidotic. Dextran would not be indicated as it exhibits anti-thrombotic tendency.
Ringer lactate
Normal saline
Dextran
Dextrose-normal saline
Miscellaneous (Fluid & Electrolyte)