management
Last reviewed 01/2018
- sit the patient up
- give oxygen
- intravenous diuretics, for example frusemide 80 to 120mg, and diamorphine, 5 to 10mg iv
The most important form of management is prevention. When giving fluid therapy consider:
- the elderly need less fluid
- caution should be taken when giving blood transfusions - it may be better to use packed cells rather than whole blood. A small dose of frusemide - 20 mg - can be given with each or alternate units of blood
- patient should be propped in bed at night