side effects of hypotonic solution

What Are IV Fluids?

Intravenous fluids (IV Fluids), also known as intravenous solutions, are supplemental fluids used in intravenous therapy to restore or maintain normal fluid volume and electrolyte balance when the oral route is not possible. IV fluid therapy is an efficient and effective way of supplying fluids directly into the intravascular fluid compartment, in ...

Types of IV Fluids

There are different types of IV fluids and different ways on how to classify them. The most common way to categorize IV fluids is based on their tonicity: 1. Isotonic. Isotonic IV solutions that have the same concentration of solutes as blood plasma. 2. Hypotonic. Hypotonic solutions have lesser concentration of solutes than plasma. 3. Hypertonic. ...

Crystalloids

Crystalloid IVsolutions contain small molecules that flow easily across semipermeable membranes. They are categorized according to their relative tonicity in relation to plasma. There are three types: isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic.

Colloids

Colloids contain large molecules that do not pass through semipermeable membranes. Colloids are IV fluids that contain solutes of high molecular weight, technically, they are hypertonic solutions, which when infused, exert an osmotic pull of fluids from interstitial and extracellular spaces. They are useful for expanding the intravascular volume an...

See Also

Here are other nursing pharmacology study guides: 1. Nursing Pharmacology – Study Guide for Nurses Our collection of topics related to nursing pharmacology 2. Pharmacology Nursing Mnemonics & Tips These nursing mnemonics aim to simplify the concepts of pharmacology through the use of a simple, concise guide. 3. Generic Drug Name Stems Cheat Sheet L...

What happens if you put a cell in a hypotonic solution?

Cells with a cell wall will swell when placed in a hypotonic solution, but once the cell is turgid (firm), the tough cell wall prevents any more water from entering the cell. When placed in a hypertonic solution, a cell without a cell wall will lose water to the environment, shrivel, and probably die.

Can a hypotonic solution cause edema?

A normal RBC in a Hypotonic solution! If the water moves into the interstitial space, that can obviously lead to edema (and all the related complications) if it goes on for too long. And if the water starts to move into the red blood cells, then those red blood cells can swell like water balloons!

What does a hypertonic solution look like?

Blood cells and plant cells in hypertonic, isotonic, and hypotonic solutions take on characteristic appearances. Cells in an isotonic solution retain their shape. Cells in a hypotonic solution swell as water enters the cell, and may burst if the concentration gradient is large enough between the inside and outside of the cell.

What happens if you have too much hypotonic fluid?

(Again, remember that we’re talking about an otherwise healthy patient right now). Too much hypotonic fluid, and those red blood cells will start poppinglike water balloons, too. (Side note: popping cells is a fun way to remember that the term “apoptosis” means cell death, by the way!)