A 70-year-old woman has a small-bowel fistula with output of 1.5 L/d. Replacement of daily losses should be handled using the fluid solution that has the following composition in mEq/L.
The composition of small intestinal fluid issodium, 140 mEq/L; potassium, 5 mEq/L; chlo-ride, 104 mEq/L; and bicarbonate, 30 mEq/L. Daily losses are best replaced by administra-tion of balanced salt solution (Ringer's lactate) whose composition is depicted in A. Brepre-sents normal saline (0.9%), C is half normal saline (0.45%), D is M/6 sodium lactate, and E is 3% sodium chloride.
A
B
C
D
Fluid, Electrolyte and Nutrition