- Crystalloids

D5W:

Dextrose 50g/L, 252 mOsm/L.  Hypotonic!  A good fluid for replacement in dehydrated patients (with concentrated serum electrolytes).   Careful… Too much D5W floods plasma proteins and other molecules (electrolytes) causing a big bummer of an imbalance that leads to dangerous interstitial and cellular edema, cerebral edema (bad for patients and nurses), and an electrolyte imbalance swinging in the opposite direction (diluted).  Don’t let the really new docs or the really old docs order this as maintenance fluid on a normovolemic patient!  Remember, normal fluids for normal (volemic) patients… Think of trying to make your CoolAid sweeter by adding more water to it (duh.. it doesn’t work).