Fluid Management and Stewardship in Veterinary Medicine

Presentation Description / Summary: We are all accustomed to the use of fluids for patient resuscitation. Most of us reach for, and use, fluids with little thought. But fluids are not always benign.

Fluids play an important role beyond hemodynamic stabilization and resuscitation. Intravenous fluids should be considered and prescribed like any other drug, only when clearly indicated. When administering fluids we need to balance the risk of not administering enough with the increasingly apparent risks of too much fluid.

During this session we will discuss the R.O.S.E concept: Resuscitation, Optimization, Stabilization, and Evacuation. This summarizes a dynamic approach to fluid therapy of maximizing benefits while minimizing harms. We will review assessing patient hydration/volume status, calculating fluid needs and therapy, and monitoring a patient for fluid overload.