Fluid Restriction

Kerri Bivona
November 26, 2013
Overview

Patient is limited to a certain
amount of liquids everyday
Common Fluid Restrictions
1000mL = 32 oz fluids


1200mL = 40 oz fluids


1500mL = 50 oz fluids
What is Considered a Fluid?
Any food liquid
at room
temperature
Ice chips
Soups/Broth
Sauces & gravies
Liquid medicines

Yogurt
Salad dressing
Popsicles
Gelatin
Ice cream
Nutritional
Supplements

What patients may require
fluid restrictions?
CHF Patients
Heart is unable to pump blood efficiently
throughout the body
Blood backs up into other areas of the body
& leads to buildup of fluid in arms, legs,
lungs, & other organs
Fluid buildup can result in shortness of
breath, edema, extreme fatigue
The more fluid one consumes, the more
fluid the body will retain
CKD Patients
Decreased kidney function makes it
difficult for the body to excrete fluids
Excess fluids can increase blood pressure,
make it harder to breathe, & cause strain
on the heart
As a patients kidney function decreases,
they can lose their ability to urinate,
resulting in additional fluid accumulation

Signs & Symptoms of Fluid Retention
Swelling of hands, ankles, feet
Difficulty breathing
Decreased appetite
Feeling extra tired
Increased size of veins in the neck
Weight gain
Rapid heartbeat
Increased Blood Pressure
Increased urination
Changes in mental status
Common Fluid Measurements
30mL = 1 oz = 2
tablespoons of
fluid
120mL = 4 oz =
cup of fluid
240mL = 8 oz = 1
cup of fluid
cup ice cream =
100mL


cup gelatin (no fruit)
= 110mL
1 ice cube = ~10mL

Ways to Decrease a Patients
Thirst
Suggest the patient brush their teeth
after a meal
Avoid salty foods
Rinse with alcohol-free mouth wash
Chew sugarless gum
Suck on hard candy
Breathe through your nose and not
through your mouth
Suck on lemon or lime wedges

References
http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Departments_
and_Services/medicine/services/cvcenter/services/a
dvancedheart/Documents/Fluid_Restriction.pdf
Escott-Stump, S. (2012). Nutrition and diagnosis-
related care. (pp.336-343). Baltimore: Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins, a Wolters Kluwer business.
Raymond, J. L., & Couch, S. C. (2012). Medical nutrition
therapy for cardiovascular disease. In L.K. Mahan, S.
Escott-Stump, & J. K. Raymond, Krauses food and the
nutrition care process (pp. 758). St Louis: Elsevier
Saunders.