ELI5- Why is an iv drip so much better than drinking water?
In: Biology
It isn’t better unless there’s a reason for it. Some reasons may include:
– A person cannot or should not be eating/drinking at that time for medical reasons (unconscious, about to go in for surgery, severe vomiting, some injury preventing them from swallowing properly, etc).
– The line is needed to give medication (or might be needed). If a medication is best delivered slowly over a long period, the easy way to accomplish that is by mixing it in with IV saline.
– The person is seriously dehydrated. You can only absorb so much water at a time through your digestive mucosa, so IVs can help with rehydration.
– The person is hypothermic and they are being given *warmed* saline to help bring their temperature back up to normal.
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