ABSTRACT
Intravenous (IV) infusion of fluid for correction of fluid and plasma volume disturbances in connection with surgical procedures or in the treatment of critically ill patients includes a potential risk of adverse effects. This is true for crystalloid type solutions as well as for the different commonly used artificial/synthetic (hydroxyethyl starches, HES; gelatins, GEL; and dextrans, DEX) or natural (albumin, plasma proteins, and blood plasma) colloids. Adverse effects associated with IV fluid therapy can, according to Table 1, be classified as either mainly local responses or more generalized systemic reactions, which, in severe cases, may even be life threatening.
