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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.

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