NICE issues new guidelines on intravenous treatment for children

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued new guidelines on managing intravenous fluid care for children and young people. According to the guidelines, there is a 'major opportunity' to improve outcomes in a hospital setting.

According to the Nursing Times, the new guidelines provide nurses and other clinical staff with best practice for using drips on children's veins. The rules set out recommendations for assessment and monitoring, replacing lost fluids and managing high or low blood sodium levels.

The guidelines set out algorithms on the specific preparations of IV fluids that should be used in various clinical situations.

NICE noted that incorrect prescriptions may result from clinical practitioners having insufficient training in IV fluid management. If IV fluids are not administered correctly, patients can be given too little or too much fluid. Too little fluid can lead to low blood volume and poor blood flow to vital organs, while too much fluid can collect in tissues and lead to heart failure.

Professor Mark Baker, Director of the NICE Centre for Clinical Practice, said that these "guidelines will help create a standardized approach to assessing fluid and electrolyte status and the prescription of intravenous fluid therapy for children and young people across the NHS.

"These new NICE recommendations represent a major opportunity to improve the health outcomes for children receiving intravenous fluid therapy in hospital."

The new rules set out instructions for what should be measured for children, depending on whether they are starting an IV drip, have particular symptoms or have relevant medical history.