0.9% Saline Solution

Hey everyone—does anyone actually know why they give us 0.9% saline after surgery at the hospital? Is it some kind of pain reliever or something?

This is the most common infusion solution you'll see; it's a crystalloid used primarily for volume replacement. It doesn't act as a painkiller—it’s essentially just standard saline in a bag that is isotonic with our bodily fluids, for the most part, though not all of them. You were given it to compensate for the fluid and blood loss during surgery, along with the natural losses we all experience continuously after an operation.

Sam Hall15 said:It’s pretty much the standard infusion solution you see everywhere—one of those crystalloids used primarily for volume replacement. It doesn't do anything for pain management; it's essentially just basic saline in a bag, isotonic with most of our body fluids (well, most, not all, obviously). You were given it to make up for the fluid and blood loss during surgery, plus whatever else you lose afterward—just like the rest of us.

Ahaaa... okay, awesome, thanks! I've actually wanted to ask about this for a while—I'm planning on heading to med school soon—but now I know it's basically the same thing as Rockefeller solution.....