Beginning Intravenous Fluids

Skin keeps water out of the body and bodily fluids in. When burned, skin loses the ability to keep body fluids in, so the fluids that have been lost after a burn must be replaced. The process of replacing fluids is called fluid resuscitation. The doctors are able to figure out the amount of fluid the body has lost by judging how much of a patient's body has been burned (TBSA). In larger burns the fluids are put into the body through an IV, or intravenous infusion. The IV is placed by the doctor into a vein. A machine regulates the amount of fluid pumped into the body through the IV line. The amount of fluid necessary is figured out by using a formula called the Baxter formula. If a burn is small, (for instance, less that 15% TBSA), fluids can generally be replaced by drinking pedialyte, juice, water, etc.