Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Intravenous (IV) fluids are the most commonly used drugs in the inpatient wards and the emergency units. They are not usually dealt with as a medication, and are frequently prescribed even by junior doctors and even the nursing staff. Serious side effects and complication may arise from this practice.
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the indications of IV fluid prescription in the Medical City.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study of the use of IV fluids in surgical wards and emergency units in the Medical city in Baghdad during a period of ten weeks. Two hundreds and ninety three patients were collected. Studying the indication for prescription, monitoring of the patients, combinations and role of pharmacists.
RESULTS:
Most common IV fluid used was glucose water (28.3%). The most common indication in the emergency unit was vomiting and diarrhea (19.1%). While in the inpatient wards, routine postoperative hydration was the commonest indication for IV fluid (13.6%). Unnecessary or wrong uses were recorded in number of cases (36.8). Deficient monitoring of patients on IV fluids was noticed in most cases (95%). No apparent role for the clinical pharmacist in this respect was reported.
CONCLUSION:
There was a quiet high ratio of unnecessary or wrong use of IV fluids and also a high ratio of low or deficient monitoring of patients that necessitate more attention by the specialists and more supervision to the practice of IV fluid prescription.