Parenteral: Restores sodium ion in patients with restricted oral intake (especially hyponatremia states or low salt syndrome). In general, parenteral saline uses:
Bacteriostatic sodium chloride: Dilution or dissolving drugs for I.M., I.V., or SubQ injections
Concentrated sodium chloride: Additive for parenteral fluid therapy
Hypertonic sodium chloride: For severe hyponatremia and hypochloremia
Hypotonic sodium chloride: Hydrating solution
Normal saline: Restores water/sodium losses
Pharmaceutical aid/diluent for infusion of compatible drug additives
Ophthalmic: Reduces corneal edema
Oral: Restores sodium losses
Inhalation: Restores moisture to pulmonary system; loosens and thins congestion caused by colds or allergies; diluent for bronchodilator solutions that require dilution before inhalation
Intranasal: Restores moisture to nasal membranes
Irrigation: Wound cleansing, irrigation, and flushing
Cardiovascular: Congestive conditions
Endocrine & metabolic: Extravasation, hypervolemia, hypernatremia, dilution of serum electrolytes, overhydration, hypokalemia
Local: Thrombosis, phlebitis, extravasation
Respiratory: Pulmonary edema
Symptoms of overdose include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, hypernatremia
Hypernatremia is resolved through the use of diuretics and free water replacement
Y-site administration: Compatible: Ciprofloxacin
Compatibility in syringe: Compatible: Cimetidine
Absorption: Oral, I.V.: Rapid
Distribution: Widely distributed
Excretion: Primarily urine; also sweat, tears, saliva
Children: I.V.: Hypertonic solutions (>0.9%) should only be used for the initial treatment of acute serious symptomatic hyponatremia; maintenance: 3-4 mEq/kg/day; maximum: 100-150 mEq/day; dosage varies widely depending on clinical condition
Replacement: Determined by laboratory determinations mEq
Sodium deficiency (mEq/kg) = [% dehydration (L/kg)/100 x 70 (mEq/L)] + [0.6 (L/kg) x (140 - serum sodium) (mEq/L)]
Children
Intranasal: 2-3 sprays in each nostril as needed
Irrigation: Spray affected area
Children and Adults: Inhalation: Bronchodilator diluent: 1-3 sprays (1-3 mL) to dilute bronchodilator solution in nebulizer prior to administration
Adults:
GU irrigant: 1-3 L/day by intermittent irrigation
Heat cramps: Oral: 0.5-1 g with full glass of water, up to 4.8 g/day
Replacement I.V.: Determined by laboratory determinations mEq
Sodium deficiency (mEq/kg) = [% dehydration (L/kg)/100 x 70 (mEq/L)] + [0.6 (L/kg) x (140 - serum sodium) (mEq/L)]
To correct acute, serious hyponatremia: mEq sodium = [desired sodium (mEq/L) - actual sodium (mEq/L)] x [0.6 x wt (kg)]; for acute correction use 125 mEq/L as the desired serum sodium; acutely correct serum sodium in 5 mEq/L/dose increments; more gradual correction in increments of 10 mEq/L/day is indicated in the asymptomatic patient
Chloride maintenance electrolyte requirement in parenteral nutrition: 2-4 mEq/kg/24 hours or 25-40 mEq/1000 kcals/24 hours; maximum: 100-150 mEq/24 hours
Sodium maintenance electrolyte requirement in parenteral nutrition: 3-4 mEq/kg/24 hours or 25-40 mEq/1000 kcals/24 hours; maximum: 100-150 mEq/24 hours.
| Condition | Water (mL/kg) | Sodium (mEq/kg) |
| Fasting and thirsting | 100-120 | 5-7 |
| Diarrhea | | |
| isonatremic | 100-120 | 8-10 |
| hypernatremic | 100-120 | 2-4 |
| hyponatremic | 100-120 | 10-12 |
| Pyloric stenosis | 100-120 | 8-10 |
| Diabetic acidosis | 100-120 | 9-10 |
| 1A negative deficit indicates total body excess prior to treatment. | ||
| Adapted from Behrman RE, Kleigman RM, Nelson WE, et al, eds, Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 14th ed, WB Saunders Co, 1992. | ||
Ophthalmic:
Ointment: Apply once daily or more often
Solution: Instill 1-2 drops into affected eye(s) every 3-4 hours
Neonates:
Full-term: 133-142 mEq/L
Premature: 132-140 mEq/L
Children
Gel, intranasal (Nasal Moist®): 0.65% (30 g)
Injection, solution: 0.45% (25 mL, 50 mL, 100 mL, 250 mL, 500 mL, 1000 mL, 1500 mL, 2000 mL); 0.9% (1 mL, 2 mL, 3 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL, 20 mL, 25 mL, 30 mL, 50 mL, 100 mL, 150 mL, 250 mL, 500 mL, 1000 mL); 2.5 % (250 mL); 3% (500 mL); 5% (500 mL)
Injection, solution [preservative free]: 0.9% (2 mL, 3 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL, 20 mL, 50 mL, 100 mL)
Injection, solution, bacteriostatic: 0.9% (10 mL, 20 mL, 30 mL)
Injection, solution, concentrate: 14.6% [2.5 mEq/mL] (20 mL, 40 mL, 250 mL); 23.4% [4 mEq/mL] (30 mL, 50 mL, 100 mL, 200 mL, 250 mL)
Ointment, ophthalmic (Muro-128®): 5% (3.5 g)
Powder, for nasal solution:
Broncho Saline®: 0.9% (90 mL, 240 mL)
Entsol®: 3% (10.5 g)
Solution, for inhalation: 0.45% (3 mL, 5 mL); 0.9% (3 mL, 5 mL, 15 mL); 3% (15 mL); 10% (15 mL)
Solution, intranasal: 0.65% (45 mL)
Altamist: 0.65% (60 mL) [spray]
Ayr® Baby Saline: 0.65% (30 mL) [spray/drops]
Ayr® Saline: 0.65% (50 mL) [drops]
Ayr® Saline Mist: 0.65% (50 mL) [spray]
Breathe Right® Saline: 0.65% (44 mL) [spray]
Entsol® [preservative free]: 3% (100 mL) [spray]
Entsol® Mist: 3% (30 mL) [spray]
Enstol® Single Use [preservative free]: 3% (240 mL) [nasal wash]
Na-Zone®: 0.75% (60 mL) [spray]
N
Nasal Moist®: 0.65% (15 mL, 45 mL) [spray]
Ocean®: 0.65% (45 mL) [spray/drops]
Pediamist®: 0.5% (15 mL) [spray]
Pretz® Irrigation: 0.75% (240 mL)
SalineX®: 0.4% (15 mL) [drops]; (50 mL) [spray]
SeaMist®: 0.65% (15 mL) [spray]
Simply Saline™: 0.9% (44 mL) [mist]
Solution for irrigation: 0.45% (2000 mL); 0.9% (250 mL, 500 mL, 1000 mL, 1500 mL, 2000 mL, 3000 mL, 4000 mL, 5000 mL)
Wound Wash Saline™: 0.9% (90 mL, 210 mL)
Solution, ophthalmic: 5% (15 mL)
Muro-128®: 2% (15 mL), 5% (15 mL, 30 mL)
Tablet: 1 g
Barer J, Hill LL, Hill RM, et al, "Fatal Poisoning From Salt Used as an Emetic,"Am J Dis Child, 1973, 125:889-90.
Gresham GS and Mashru MK, "Fatal Poisoning With Sodium Chloride,"Forensic Sci Int, 1982, 20:87-8.
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, "2005 National Patient Safety Goals," available at http://www.jcaho.org/accredited+organizations/patient+safety/05_npsg_guidelines Last accessed October 15, 2004.
Meadow R, "Nonaccidental Salt Poisoning,"Arch Dis Child, 1993, 68(4):448-52.
Moder KG and Hurley DL, "Fatal Hypernatremia From Exogenous Salt Intake: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature,"Mayo Clin Proc, 1990, 65(12):1587-94.
Smith EJ, and Palevsky S, "Salt Poisoning in a Two-Year-Old Child,"Am J Emerg Med, 1990, 8:571-2.