Therapy

If none of the following are present, fluids can safely be given more slowly if necessary ^d
• circulatory shock
• oliguria (<30ml/hr) during the first 4 hours of admission
• renal insufficiency (urea > 21mmol/l or creatinine > 350 µmol/l).

Why?

• If there is no evidence of severe dehydration, normal saline given at 500ml/hour for 4 hours followed by 250 ml/hour for 4 hours does not clearly affect time to normalised biochemistry than normal saline 1L/ hour for 4 hours followed by 500ml/hr for 4 hours. ^d