Saline

Question: What is the purpose of a saline IV solution containing dextrose? Does anyone know what dextrose does when added to a regular saline IV? What is the purpose of a dextrose containing IV solution? Kind of a separate question, but do you happen to know what a lactated ringer's IV solution is used for (why not just use saline?) Thanks!

Answer: To add on, D5NS (Dextrose 5% in normal saline) is hypertonic, meaning it has a higher solute concentration than tissues, so it can be used to help draw fluids out of oedematous (fluid-swollen) tissues. Lactated Ringer's solution, on the other hand, is isotonic, meaning it will stay in the veins, not move into tissues, but will not draw fluid out of tissues either. It can be used when someone needs to replenish their blood volume really quickly, such as a person who has had a really bad bleed or burn and is headed for shock. Saline on its own is hypotonic (some will say it's isotonic, but actually it's hypo), meaning it has a lower solute concentration than the fluid inside cells. Through osmosis, water (the saline!) will move into the cells to try to equalize the concentration inside and outside body cells... This is great if someone is extremely dehydrated, but baaaad if they're already fluid overloaded (as with oedema)

Question: What is the difference between Normal saline and sterile water? This is a question for Microbiology. In order to dilute serum AX I need to add normal saline solution to it to turn it into BX. Why is normal saline used instead of sterile water? BX is for an injection for a baby. What would happen if sterile water was used? Please help.

Answer: You would use saline because it is essentially salt water but has the same ph as blood. Sterile water (if enough is used) can actually cause a red blood cell to explode.

Question: What are the different colors for each saline lock cap gauge? What are the different gauge sizes for each different color cap on a saline/IV lock site? I know blue is a 22 gauge saline lock, but what about: 16, 18, 20 & 24? Is there a website that has this information?

Answer: Try http://www.edwardsmedical.com/

Question: How to make a saline solution to clean a piercing? Can I use just table salt as long as it does not have iodine, Or can I use contact saline solution? I know I should use sea salt, but I won't have any for the next 3 or 4 days, (it's at my house) and I still want to be able to keep my piercing clean.

Answer: non-iodized table salt will work as well, but picking up some more sea salt is pretty cheap, it's only a couple of dollars per pound. Most table salt contains iodine, so be sure to check the package before you use it. If you don't have either, plain warm water is better than soap or contact solution. Contact solution contains preservatives and other chemicals that you don't want in your fresh piercing. Wound care saline from the drug store is fine to use as well.

Question: Can i use Saline solution instead of Diluted Povidone-iodine to treat shell rot on turtle? I was reading up on treating shell rot and they say to use a "diluted povidone-iodine" solution. When i looked it up it said it was similiar to saline solution. Can i use Saline solution and dilute it to treat my turtles shell rot?

Answer: All that saline solution is made of is non-iodized salt and purified water, making it not very effective in treating shell rot. It's almost like putting salt water on your turtle. Though saline solution helps to heal cuts and infections faster, you will see better, faster results if you use the diluted povidone-iodine. Best of luck! (:

Question: Is saline solution ok to use for a cartiliage piercing? As in the kind that you use for your eyes. I have Ciba Vision Saline solution for SoftWear lenses and it's formulated for Sensitive Eyes.

Answer: No, it's not. Most of the contact lens solution you get has additives and other ingredients that are ok for your eyes, but not what you want to be putting on an open wound. The add preservatives to make it keep as well. The confusion happens when we use the term saline solution. Sea salt in distilled water at 0.9% is saline, but the word makes most people think of contact lenses. You can easily mix your own saline solution by adding 1/4 tsp sea salt to 1 cup warm water. Use that for your piercings, keep the other for your lenses

Question: What are the differences between silicone and saline breast implants? What are the differences between silicone and saline breast implants? I thought they are same.

Answer: Silicone went off the market for a while in the US for safety reasons. If the saline raptures it wont make you sick like the silicone, but with the new implants it's EXTREMELY unlikely they'll rupture so silicone is making a big come back. Silicone is said to feel and move more naturally than salines.

Question: what is the difference between chlorine and saline pool chemicals? I just bought a pool and got it up today. I need to know what chemicals to put into my pool and someone said something about saline pool.

Answer: You only need salt in your pool if you have a chlorine generator. I'm guessing you don't.

Question: How many drops of concentrated Albuterol solution to Saline solution should I use? I finally found some saline I can use with my albuterol medicine. Now all I need to know is the proper mixture ratio. Can you help?

Answer: if you are using a nebulizer and you are an adult, the proper mixture is: 2.5 mg of albuterol to 3 ml of normal saline... make sure there is a fine mist before starting inhaling....

Question: What type of saline solution to use for piercings? I have a navel piercing and I don't know what type of saline solution to buy, is it alright to mix salt in warm water and soak a cotton pad in it and cover the piercing with the pad? Or use contact lens solution thanks, can i use any type of salt? mine is for cooking but it says "fine salt" and no other details provided...

Answer: well first off the piercer should've given you after care along with an after care sheet. But since he didnt, well that should tell you one thing, anywho what you can do is get sea salt. Some piercers dont recommend it simply because if you use too much sea salt and not enough water it'll harm the piercing, and if there isnt enough sea salt...ur pretty much just soaking it in water. what you want to do is get a table 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized (iodine free) sea salt into one cup (8 oz) of warm distilled and mix them together. what i find to be easier is to get a cup of the sea salt solution and well you put the cup over your navel and then can lay down facing up with the cup over your navel so that the solution is pretty much on your navel and then you can let it soak for a couple of minutes and then just rinse it lightly and ur good to go. preferable i'd suggest this soap that i get from my piercer its called Provon. its really good medicated soap. you can ask your local piercing shop if they have any. and if you are able to get a hold of some Provon you just clean your piercing in the shower after you're done shampooin, washin up...and everything else, you want to get a q-tip and put some Provon on it, and rub it around the piercing gently and work up a nice lather and then rinse it off. after that you leave the piercing alone. also you dont want to submerge your piercing into any sort of water like lakes, ocean, baths, jacuzzis, hot tubs...etc bc all sorts of bacteria are in there...

Question: What is a saline suspention and why are they used? Why can't the cultures be diluted in broth or water? No one says what % salt for the saline.

Answer: saline is normally 0.9%sodium chloride and they are normally used for intravenous injection for rehydration.who told u that cultures cannot be diluted in broth. cultures can well be diluted with broth..

Question: What type saline eye drops can be used for Fuch's dystrophy? I have a condition called Fuch's Dystrophy in my corneas. Saline drops can be used, but I need to know what strength, if you need a prescription, or if you can buy it over- the -counter. This condition causes fluid to build up--saline drops supposedly help to dry it up.

Answer: Regular saline eye drops will not help. This is because standard saline solution and standard types of ocular lubricating drops are formulated to match the normal saline content of your tears. In order to cause fluid to transfer out of the cornea you must create an osmotic gradient. What that means is you must put a drop in the eye that is HYPER tonic -- contains much more salt than normal tears. The higher than normal salt content will cause fluid to osmoticly flow from the cornea (a lower salt environment) into the hypertonic solution (a higher salt environment). You must use something like MURO 128 to achieve this effect. Contact your doctor. He or she will be able to get you some MURO 128.

Question: Which is the best saline solution to use on contacts? I currently use Walmart's Equate brand of solution but an eye doctor told me that Equate uses Reno's old formulation of saline solution so I wanted to switch to something newer and better (of course it has to be multi-purpose). Which company has a really good solution?

Answer: Definitely Optifree Replenish. And any solution that you use, even if it says no rub on it...give your lenses a quick rub before you put them in their case. Also, if you are prone to very dry eyes or if your doctor mentions that you have protein or lipid deposits on your contacts, there is a peroxide based solution called Clear Care that is amazing. It's safe to use everyday but if you don't have any problems then Optifree will be perfect for you.

Question: How do I make a saline solution for an infection? I got my nose pierced about a month ago at a totally legit licensed place, but I think its gotten infected. I've read that using a saline solution should clear it up, but im to broke to go buy one, so I'm hoping to make it myself. Is it just water and sea salt? Or is there other stuff I should add too?

Answer: It is just sea salt & hot water, yes. There's no need to add anything else. 1/4 tsp of sea salt per cup of hot water.

Question: Can you recommend me a saline solution for my costume contact lenses? I've never used contacts before, and these have been confirmed OK by my eye professional. I have Gothika (angelic) costume contact lenses, and I've never worn contacts before. I'm not sure which kind of saline solution is the best to use/is inexpensive. Any help here is loved!

Answer: Go ahead and get the generic no-rub solution. It is usually about $2 for a bottle. I've worn contacts for over 15 years and the expensive solutions aren't any better than the cheap stuff!

Question: Why do doctors inject a saline solution instead of a water solution? It says in my textbook that sometimes ppl get intravenous injections by doctors, and they only inject a saline solution not regular water. Why is that? We're studying osmosis and diffusion. Ok i get ur answer #1 but still i dont get why regular water would make it burst, is it because the water is hypotonic to the cell?

Answer: Saline solution can be made to be isotonic to blood cells. Were you to just inject pure water the blood cells could burst. This should make sense with the rest of your work on osmosis and diffusion. Good luck! Edit: Yes, water is hypotonic to the inside of a cell (cells contain various proteins, amino acids, ions etc; water does not).

Question: Can you use saline solution for contacts to clean a belly button piercing? It's been said on a few sites a saline solutions can be used to clean belly button piercings, so I was wondering if this includes saline solution for contacts. And, if so -- can I just squirt some on and chill for a little bit or do I have to do the whole thing where I get a shot glass and have it upturned on my belly button and blah blah blah? Thanks. :]

Answer: No, you can't use that. It doesn't only contain saline. It has other chemicals in it that can harm your piercing. You can buy wound wash saline from a drugstore or most other places that carry first-aid supplies. The saline solution that can be used for piercings contains .09% sodium chloride solution. I have used Blairex sterile wound wash saline for all or my piercings and it works great.

Question: what kind of saline solution should i buy to clean my nose piercing? i've heard you can buy saline solution at like walmart or something to use to clean your piercings. what kind of saline solution should i get? like what strength and/or what brand in particular? annnnnnd would it be okay to put it in like a mug or something and put it in the microwave so i can have it be hot to soak my nose in it? or should i just stick to the room temperature?

Answer: To find saline at a store, ask the pharmacist. They will be able to suggest which to pick up for your nose. You can absolutely warm the solution up, but be VERY careful using the microwave. Water can go from room temp to scalding in just a few seconds. If you can't get the temperature right, room temperature will do. You can also make your own saline solution at home to use on your nose. Mix 1/8-1/4 teaspoon sea salt in 8 oz very warm water. Apply the solution to the piercing with a little bit of cotton wool for 5-10 mintues, changing the cotton for warm solution as it cools. I find this method easier than trying to guess how long to microwave things. The warmth of the solution acts as a compress and helps draw out dirt and debris. Don't forget to clean the inside of your piercing as well. Soak a q-tip in the solution and do your best to tidy up the inside, removing crusties etc.

Question: How will using an iv with saline and dextrose will affect my Atkins diet? I'm having surgery and I know a saline and dextrose iv will be used. I have been on Atkins for over a month and I'm doing really good, but now I'm afraid the iv will mess everything after I have put so much time and effort to the point that I don't even crave sweets at all anymore. Please help!!

Answer: Talk to your doctor.

Question: What is the absolute cheapest, surest way to remove a tattoo? If saline solution, how can I make my own? Also, how good does saline solution work? I am broke for now, so I need the absolute cheapest thing possible to remove a tattoo. If anything homemade would work, that'd be great. Please, save the stupid answers.

Answer: get laser removal the do not pay the bill......