Fluids and Electrolytes

This interesting new book is designed for healthcare professional students and practitioners (nurses, physiotherapists, paramedics, medical students and others) who wish to get a solid understanding of fluid and electrolyte physiology and its implications for practice, including acid-base balance and intravenous (IV) therapy.

The book is designed to give you a comprehensive overview of fluid and electrolyte function in the body in a concise, accessible and easily understandable format. As healthcare professionals we are concerned with health, physiology, human behaviour and human growth and development including the physiological changes that occur across the lifespan. Therefore, this text approaches the physiology of fluid balance to incorporate physiological, developmental and practical aspects here, highlighting some of the key issues that arise from childhood to old age.

The book explores fluid and electrolyte physiology in a slightly different format than is often presented in textbooks. We will see how fluid and electrolytes move around the body, how fluid and electrolyte balance influences other bodily functions, how disease processes affect fluid and electrolyte physiology. This exciting text is presented with clear graphical representations of key processes, numerous tables and also contains interesting facts interspersed to explore some common myths about human fluid and electrolyte physiology.

Initially the text gives an overview of fluid and electrolytes and then moves on to examine the different types of bodily fluids, their functions and their movement in the human body. It then explores the nature and functions of the electrolytes in the body, and regulatory mechanisms for fluid and electrolyte control. Subsequently, the text covers acid-base balance in practical terms, and finally, some of the specific issues associated with fluid and electrolyte balance throughout the different stages of human development.

This book has been designed for use in different ways; as a textbook, reference source, or as a concise guide and primer to fluid and electrolyte balance for healthcare professionals. The book is laid out for ease of reference and a comprehensive index and glossary is given at the back. Clear learning outcomes are given for each section, whilst to make the subject more interesting for the reader, trivia facts have been interjected to give context to the material. Clinical focus elements are also included illustrating specific fluid and electrolyte disorders to help the reader see the practical clinical applications. These may also be of use to educators covering this material in the classroom.

It can be used as reference material for those studying this subject at both pre-qualification and post-qualification levels, and for use as a clinical reference text. It will also prove useful to those studying for specialist practice certification. For more advanced applications some excellent further sources are given throughout the book for those who wish to explore the subject further.