A COMPARISON OF INTRAVENOUS AND SUBCUTANEOUS HYDRATION IN ELDERLY ACUTE STROKE PATIENTS

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of subcutaneous and intravenous fluid therapy in hydrating, elderly acute stroke pati ents. Thirty-four such patients, needing parenteral fluids because of impaired consciousness or dysphagia, were randomly allocated to receiv e either subcutaneous or intravenous fluids (2 litres of dextrose-sali ne/24 hours). Serum osmolality was measured before starting fluid ther apy (Day 1) and on Days 2 and 3. An analysis of covariance of the osmo lalities showed no statistical difference between the two groups (P = 0.12). The total cost of cannulae used over the 3 days for the subcuta neous route was approximately a third of that for the intravenous rout e. Complication rates were similar for the two groups. The results sug gest that subcutaneous fluid therapy is an effective alternative to th e intravenous route.