Intravenous fluid use significantly decreased in pediatric emergency departments nationwide after Hurricane Helene caused a shortage due to damage to a major manufacturing plant. The FDA urged hospitals to conserve IV fluids, which are often overused despite not being necessary for many patients. A study examined changes in IV fluid usage and clinical outcomes from more than a million pediatric emergency encounters in 42 hospitals. The analysis focused on the periods before and during the shortage, revealing patterns in IV fluid administration during this time.
"IV fluids are easy to order, they're abundantly available and oftentimes we give them to patients without a true need," Ramgopal said. "When this hurricane struck, there was a need to reconcile patients who really needed IV fluids with those for whom IV fluids were perhaps used unnecessarily."
Following Hurricane Helene, there was a significant reduction in IV fluid use in pediatric emergency departments. The findings provide insights into potential improvements in care delivery.
#pediatric-emergency-medicine #intravenous-fluids #hurricane-helene #healthcare-resource-management #clinical-outcomes
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