So we know saline therapy offers significant benefits to POTS pts. Many Potsies, especially in America are on daily/weekly/monthly saline infusions.
Most do so via peripheral access, a PICC line or a Port. There are pros and cons to each of these. Peripheral has the least risk of infection, but you can only do it for ~ 6 months before you blow out all your veins. You will also need a nurse to access you every time. You can only keep it in for 3 days. PICC has a high risk of infection/clot as does a Port. You cannot get a PICC wet either. A Port also needs to be placed via surgery and you must be highly aseptic when accessing (facemask, etc.). It is almost inevitable complications will arise which can be lethal (sepsis, clot, infections, port flipping over).
However there is another option - subcutaneous hydration. It is often used in palliative care and for paeds. I am trying to figure out why it's not used for dysautonomia. The pros are anyone can access themselves, it is cheap, there is a very low chance of infection and you can keep each site for ~ week. The only con is it is slow and you may need 2 sites to get adequate fluids.
Why not do subcut fluids? Is it less effective at increasing blood volume?
Most do so via peripheral access, a PICC line or a Port. There are pros and cons to each of these. Peripheral has the least risk of infection, but you can only do it for ~ 6 months before you blow out all your veins. You will also need a nurse to access you every time. You can only keep it in for 3 days. PICC has a high risk of infection/clot as does a Port. You cannot get a PICC wet either. A Port also needs to be placed via surgery and you must be highly aseptic when accessing (facemask, etc.). It is almost inevitable complications will arise which can be lethal (sepsis, clot, infections, port flipping over).
However there is another option - subcutaneous hydration. It is often used in palliative care and for paeds. I am trying to figure out why it's not used for dysautonomia. The pros are anyone can access themselves, it is cheap, there is a very low chance of infection and you can keep each site for ~ week. The only con is it is slow and you may need 2 sites to get adequate fluids.
Why not do subcut fluids? Is it less effective at increasing blood volume?