The Effect of Maintenance Fluids on Overall Fluid Balance in ICU Patients

Fluid therapy is an important part in both prevention and treatment of shock and multiple organ dysfunction in the ICU. However, the risks of giving patients too much fluids resulting in fluid has been gaining increased focus during recent years. Numerous studies regarding the amount of resuscitation fluid given to ICU patients have been performed, as well as investigations regarding factors that trigger the decision to deliver a fluid challenge to the patients. Likewise, multiple studies reveal that a more restrictive use of resuscitation fluids often lead to a better outcome for our patients. However, data regarding the amount of maintenance fluids and the effect of maintenance fluids on fluid balance and consequently outcome remain sparse. One major difficulty is that there is no universal definition of the term maintenance fluid. Some researchers include all fluids that is not considered resuscitation fluids, i.e. fluids given to administer drugs, to keep peripheral and central venous catheters functioning, administration of basal fluid needs and nutrition, while others exclude fluids covering basal needs and nutrition from the definition.