Sodium Chloride 0.9%: Infusion Guidance and Precautions

Indications

• Vehicle for the administration of drugs by IV infusion.
• Severe dehydration.
• Fluid replacement in trauma, surgery, and anaesthesia, although Ringer lactate is preferred for these indications.

Forms and strengths

100 ml, 250 ml, 500 ml and 1000 ml bottles or bags.

Composition

Isotonic solution of sodium chloride (0.9 g per 100 ml) for infusion.

Ionic composition: sodium 150 mmol (150 mEq) per litre and chloride 150 mmol (150 mEq) per litre.

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

• Administer with caution to patients with conditions associated with sodium or fluid retention such as hypertension, heart failure, peripheral or pulmonary oedema, renal impairment, hepatic impairment with cirrhosis, or pre-eclampsia, and to patients taking drugs that increase that risk such as corticosteroids.
• May cause pulmonary oedema in the event of too rapid infusion or infusion of excessive amounts.
• Do not use as vehicle for the administration of amphotericin B; use only 5% glucose solution.
• After infusion, 0.9% sodium chloride remains in the intravascular compartment for 1 to 2 hours.
• For correction of hypovolaemia due to haemorrhage, administer 3 times the lost volume only if blood loss does not exceed 1500 ml in adults and cardiac and renal function are not impaired.
• 0.9% sodium chloride solution may be used to prevent hypotension induced by spinal anaesthesia.
• For external use, sterile 0.9% sodium chloride solution is used for cleansing of non-infected wounds, wound irrigation, eye cleansing, and nasal lavage.