Fatal drips: Doctors warn against misuse of IV fluids

In a startling revelation, medical experts from Solan have raised alarm over the unregulated use of intravenous (IV) fluids, cautioning that what is often considered life-saving can turn life-threatening when used indiscriminately.

IV fluids are commonly administered in emergency settings—for dehydration, to deliver medications and to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance. However, doctors warn that routine and unmonitored use, especially in non-critical conditions, is leading to avoidable complications, and in some cases, fatalities.

Dr Sanjay Aggarwal, a surgeon from Solan, emphasised during a recent medical symposium that “numerous deaths attributed to unknown causes may, in fact, be due to inappropriate IV fluid administration.” He noted that some patients, driven by a sense of weakness, directly request fluid infusions—pressuring physicians to oblige. “What begins as a harmless request can convert a healthy individual into a patient,” he said.

Citing a conservative estimate, he said truckloads of IV fluids are used daily in district hospitals. “Like any other drug, fluid therapy demands careful consideration—the right indication, correct dose, proper monitoring and defined duration,” he added. While these fluids can be lifesaving when prescribed correctly, irrational use can trigger severe complications, including fluid overload, organ dysfunction, metabolic imbalances and even hypothermia.

Dr Aggarwal highlighted the dangers of pulmonary edema—a condition where excess fluid fills the lungs—causing breathlessness, oxygen deficiency and mental confusion.

Both Dr Sanjay and Dr Savita Aggarwal of a local hospital here stressed the need for awareness among healthcare providers, paramedics and the general public. “Fluids, though life-saving, can also be life-threatening if misused,” they warned, urging all stakeholders to be alert and responsible. “It’s the shared duty of both giver and receiver to know when to prescribe—and when not to demand,” they concluded.

Himachal Tribune