The clinical and evidence-based guideline Intravenous fluid therapy in children and young people in hospital, commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), developed by the National Clinical Guideline Centre (NCGC), and hosted by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), has been published on 9 December.
The new guideline sets out best practice for nurses, doctors and other clinical staff in providing fluids given via a drip into a vein – a common hospital procedure.
The guideline includes recommendations on assessment and monitoring and:
- replacing lost fluids
- managing high and low blood sodium levels
- advice on specific preparations of IV fluids to use in different clinical situations.
The evidence review and full recommendations can be found on the NICE website.