A Study of the Fluid Balance of the Patients on Soft Diets

Yang, Young Hee; Choi, Kwon Smi; Kim, Eun Kyoung; Sung, Il Soon

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the fluid balance of the patients who were either on soft fluid diet or total parenteral nutrition. We studied 19 patients with neurologic disorders and 22 patients with oromaxillary surgery who were admitted to either D university hospital in Choognam or S general hospital in Seoul between May and November 1995. The mean age lor the patients who had oromaxillary surgery was 24 years and their average hospital stay was 9 days. The mean age of the patients with neurologic disorders was 54 years and they were bedridden for average of 71 days. For the maxillary bone surgery patients we did not limit the range of their activities in the ward during data collection period. The patients with neurological disorders were bedridden and did not move around the ward. They were all either on soft fluid diet, or total parenteral nutrition. The findings of this study are as follows; 1) The difference of the triceps skinfold thickness between the baseline and the final measurement was 0.4cm for neurologic patient group and 0.5cm for oromaxillary surgery patient group. The difference was not statistically significant in each group. 2) In the oromaxillary surgery patient group, the daily intake of fluid in the form of pure water, other beverages, fluid diet as well as IV fluid was 4581ml while urine output was 2979ml. The difference between fluid intake and output was statistically significant, indicating that fluid intake was far more than urine output. In neurologic patient group, the daily intake of fluid including water from fluid diet and IV fluid was 2701ml whereas urine output was 2253ml and they were statistically significant. 3) For a more accurate assessment we adjusted the fluid balance based on weight changes during data collection period. In the oromaxillary surgery patient group, the difference between fluid intake and output was 1238ml after weight changes being adjusted. The difference was statistically significant, suggesting fluid overload in this patient group. In neurologic patient group, the difference between fluid intake and output considering weight changes was 124ml. The difference was not statistically significant, suggesting that the fluid intake and output was well balanced in this patient group.