New national guidance to support the safe, appropriate and sustainable use of intravenous fluids has been released by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
Intravenous (IV) fluids are one of the most common clinical interventions in acute care. While often essential to patient care, inappropriate initiation, monitoring or continuation can contribute to avoidable patient harm.
The Commission has developed guidance and resources to support safe, appropriate and sustainable use of IV fluids across the patient journey, including pre-procedural fluid management.
The resources can be used by public and private healthcare organisations in the acute sector, as well as health professionals involved in prescribing, administering, monitoring and reviewing IV fluid therapy.
When to Start, Stop or Switch
The decision to start, stop or switch IV fluid therapy should be guided by the patient’s clinical condition, patient-specific factors and response to treatment to minimise the risk of complications.
To support health professionals with this decision-making process, the Commission has released:
Intravenous fluid therapy: Principles for safe, appropriate and sustainable use guidance provides a summary of the core considerations that should underpin all decisions about IV fluid therapy.
Safe administration of intravenous fluids: Avoiding venous air embolism provides guidance on the safe administration of IV fluids to prevent venous air embolism (VAE).
Fact sheet for prescribers to guide decision-making for initiating, reviewing and/or ceasing IV fluids.
Poster for clinicians to support local adoption by health service organisations.
Visit the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care here.
