Guide To Intravenous Fluids: 0.9% Sodium Chloride (Normal Saline)

OVERVIEW

This page is dedicated to providing more information on the intravenous fluid 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline). More information on other intravenous (IV) fluids can be found here.

Normal saline is a very commonly used IV fluid in medicine (source)
WHAT IS IT?

0.9% sodium chloride (commonly called normal saline) is a very commonly used IV fluid in medicine. It has the following features:

  • Osmolarity (isotonic): 308 mOsmol/L ( 0.9 g/L sodium chlroide)
  • Sodium concentration:  154 mEq/L
  • Chloride concentration:  154 mEq/L
WHEN DO WE USE IT?

Corrective volume depletion: this IV fluid is used often to correct for dehydration or patients who are suffering from volume depletion.

WHEN DO WE AVOID USING  IT?

 

 

Page Updated: 01.09.2017