The normal pleural space contains approximately 1 ml of fluid. Pleural fluid is filtered in the parietal pleural compartment from the systemic capillaries down a small pressure gradient into the pleural space. Pleural fluid secretion is greatest at the apex while absorption is maximum towards the diaphragm and mediastinum, where the parietal lymphatics are concentrated. The fluid is drained out...

BACKGROUND Inappropriate prescribing of intravenous (IV) fluid, particularly 0.9% sodium chloride, causes post-operative complications. Fluid prescription is often left to junior medical staff and is frequently poorly managed. One reason for poor intravenous fluid prescribing practices could be inadequate coverage of this topic in the textbooks that are used. METHODS We formulated a comprehen...

We report on a 43-year-old patient undergoing a hysteroscopic myomectomy. After 80 minutes of operation, the patient developed laryngeal edema, requiring emergency tracheostomy. Hyponatremia (serum sodium 78 mmoL/L) indicated an irrigation fluid absorption. The patient developed shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure, and diffuse intravascular coagulopathy. Resuscitatio...

Accurate assessments of intravascular fluid status are an essential part of perioperative care and necessary in the management of the hemodynamically unstable patient. Goal-directed fluid management can facilitate resuscitation of the hypovolemic patient, reduce the risk of fluid overload, reduce the risk of the injudicious use of vasopressors and inotropes, and improve clinical outcomes. In th...

Hypervolemia was produced in dogs by infusion of matched whole blood or of red cells suspended in dextran. In the dogs which had received matched whole blood, bleeding with simnltaneous volume replacement with dextran produced acute hypervolemic anemia. This was associated with increased cardiac output, whereas no increase of cardiac output was seen in the same animals with a comparable amount ...

The loss of muscle mass is a defining characteristic of malnutrition, and there is ongoing interest in the assessment of lean tissue at the bedside. Globally, bioimpedance techniques have been widely appreciated for their noninvasiveness, safety, ease of use, portability, and relatively low cost compared with other clinically available methods. In this brief update, we review the 3 primary type...