Question

In the Emergency room, the child is treated with an IV bag of dextran, which is commonly used as a volume expander due to the large, complex glycans, while reducing blood viscosity. Explain in correct capillart flow terminology why treatment with dextran would help treat severe dehydration. Must use the terms capillary hydrostatic pressure, colloid osmotic pressure, filtration, absorption.

Answer 1

Dehydration:

A significant loss of body fluids that impairs the normal bodily functions is known as dehydration .

The only effective treatment for the dehydration is to restore the lost fluids and electrolytes. Dextran is a complex branched glycan.

Dextrans are large solute molecules that do not pass from plasma to interstitial fluid. The retained molecules in the colloid fluid create an osmotic force called the colloid osmotic pressure or oncotic pressure that holds the water in the vascular component.

In dehydration the glomeral filtration rate is also declined , osmotic clearance, free water absorption and urinary urea excretion is also lowered.

So to maintain the electrolyte balance IV fluids are necessary to prevent the client from hypovolemic shock.