Sodium Chloride, more commonly known as saline solution, is used in clinics and hospitals worldwide. Unfortunately, a recent disaster has left the world struggling to find the right solutions in the right amounts. Doctors are trying different tactics, which is affecting patient care across the globe. What comes next?
What Sodium Chloride is Used For
Sodium Chloride is a hospital and clinic essential. Most IV’s are partially saline. At its most simple, Intravenous IV Solution Flexible Bag 1,000 mL bags part #L8000 can be used to rehydrate a patient suffering from severe dehydration. The smaller bags, such as 500 mL bags part #L8001 and 250 mL bags part #L8002, are regularly used as a dosing mechanism for medications from painkillers to antibiotics and beyond.
A nurse mixes meds into a bag of saline, then attaches the bag to the patient’s IV. The rate of flow controls the rate of dosing, and the nurse is on to care for the next patient. It’s a quick and effective means of controlling the dose of a medication. With some bags, particularly smaller bags, being impossible to find at the moment, hospitals are scrambling to find another easy to way to administer meds.
What Disrupted Sodium Chloride Production
In a high tech world, it’s sometimes astounding that a low tech problem can throw the world out of order. Hurricane Maria tore through Puerto Rico and left turmoil in its wake. Many medical manufacturers reside on the island. One of the largest brands of saline products has a factory there. Even though the factory itself sustained minor damage, production has still been slow. It’s difficult for Puerto Ricans to get to work and even more difficult to move products off the island. Doctors who need Preservative-Free Intravenous IV Solution Flexible Bag 1,000 mL bags part #L8500 can’t get it.
It could be months before sodium chloride production is back at its previous levels. Most hospitals are already out of their standard sizes and are looking for alternatives. When production does come back online, it will be to the relief of many.
Worldwide Response
The worldwide response to this crisis has been admirable. During the first weeks after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, the FDA gave permission for other plants to import their saline into the US, easing some of the burden. It’s simply not enough. Demand for saline hasn’t gone down; doctors still would prefer to use 250 mL bags part#L8502 by B.Braun than have their own pharmacies spend time compounding sodium chloride themselves.
Resourcefulness is the only response. Most centers with the resources have devoted themselves to manufacturing what sodium chloride they can on their own. Others, however, are looking for other ways to administer drugs that are effective, safe, and quick. Regardless, everyone is looking out for what may be rare tomorrow.
In most hospitals, getting Preservative-Free 0.9% Intravenous IV Solution Flexible Bag 1,000 mL bags part #L8000 used to be as easy as asking for it. But it’s not that easy anymore. As more hospitals treat their patients without or with less saline, doctors wonder what could be next.