Why would using distilled water instead of saline solution in an IV upset a patients homeostaisis?

Answer 1

By using distilled water instead of a balanced solution of electrolytes such as saline or a lactated ringer, you will disrupt the osmotic balance of the red blood cells among other things. Most importantly, the red blood cells are isotonic with the surrounding blood plasma or serum, but by adding distilled water to this plasma, the plasma is now hypotonic to the RBC, so water will cross the membrane of the RBC and eventually cause the cell to rupture, or lyse. This will happen to other cells as well, with different effects. One you have red cell lysis, however, you get a whole host of other problems such as hemoglobinuria andmost likely polyuria, anemia and so on and so forth, all of which disrupts the overall homeostasis.

Answer 2

Saline Solution Iv

Answer 3

By 'diffusion' I think you mean the 'watering down' of something, in other words, the interspersing of (salt) molecules with more water between them, so the end result would be a less 'salty' solution. And since the human body must maintain a cetain salinity ( a certain number of salt molecules per quantity of water) such a diffusion that would occur if water were to be used, instead of saline solution, would put the patient in dire straits. The same thing can occur if you excercise and drink alot of water- you can upset your electrolites (the salty solution that is part of blood), and experience adverse effects, even death.

Answer 4

The physical properties of the body's fluid system contains salt and other compounds. We came from a salt water environment and carry the salt water within us. Distilled water does not contain the various compounds that are in our blood so it would dilute our blood and throw off the balance that the body is trying to keep. The result of this would upset a patients homeostasis.

Answer 5

It would cause a problem that relates to the concentration of salt in the fluid inside the body's cells and the concentration in the fluid (blood?) outside the cells. The concentration outside the cells would be reduced if water were used in an IV.

I don't know the details.

Answer 6

Lack of electrolites?????