Fluid balance charts are an important piece of documentation with a poor reputation.

Despite offering valuable information that may help prevent a patient from becoming seriously ill, healthcare staff are notorious for leaving them incomplete and inaccurate (Lim et al. 2021).

Dehydration is a prevalent issue in hospitals and care settings, with many patients relying on staff to manage their fluid intake, but time constraints and inaccuracies are putting patients at risk (Litchfield et al. 2018).

It’s essential that fluid balance charts are accurately completed in order to determine a patient’s fluid input and output and identify any potential fluid loss or gain that could be detrimental, requiring escalation of care.

What is Fluid Balance?

Fluid balance, also known as fluid homeostasis, describes the balancing of the body’s fluid input and output levels to prevent the fluid concentration from changing (Payne 2017; Bannerman 2018).

In order to maintain the necessary balance of nutrients, oxygen and water, the adult body generally requires an intake of two to three litres per day, with approximately the same output (Bannerman 2018).

Balance is naturally maintained through thirst when fluid is too concentrated and passing urine when fluid is less concentrated. However, illness or injury can alter these natural mechanisms, requiring monitoring and intervention (Payne 2017; Bannerman 2018).

You must ensure patients are adequately intaking and excreting fluid in order to maintain homeostasis.

What is a Fluid Balance Chart?

A fluid balance chart is used to document a patient’s fluid input and output within a 24-hour period. This information is used to inform clinical decisions (such as medication and surgical interventions) from medical staff, nurses and dieticians, who all expect accurate figures in exact measurements (Georgiades 2016).

When completing a fluid balance chart, you should record any fluid intake by the patient in exact quantities, as well as the type of fluid and the route of administration (e.g. orally, intravaneously). For example, if you give the patient a 200 mL glass of water they consume orally, you will need to record all of that information. You should also keep a running total (Osmosis 2021).

Output (urine, loose stools, vomit etc.) should also be measured in exact quantities (Osmosis 2021).

While the concept of a fluid balance chart seems simple, in practice it can be difficult, and many issues with the recording process have been identified.

What’s Going Wrong?

Research suggests that nursing staff are not only unaware of the importance of fluid balance, but are also conducting unnecessary monitoring (Vincent & Mahendiran 2015).

A study in 2021 revealed that among 1,497 patients undergoing fluid balance monitoring, 22% had no clinical indication for being monitored (Lim et al. 2021).

Furthermore, the same study found that 23% of the fluid balance charts documented were inaccurate (Lim et al. 2021), while an earlier study found that the average completion rate of fluid balance charts was only 50% (Vincent & Mahendiran 2015).

Yet another study found that although nursing staff acknowledged the importance of fluid balance, monitoring patients’ hydration was ‘one of several competing priorities’ subject to time pressures. Passive, independent patients were found to be the most adversely affected by this, as they had the capacity to manage their own fluid intake but were too anxious to request fluids from staff in fear of seeming ‘difficult’ (Litchfield et al. 2018).

Clearly, there is significant room for improvement in fluid balance monitoring by staff. It has been suggested that a daily medical review of fluid charts would allow for more efficiency and accuracy, and reduction of unnecessary workloads, however, educating staff about the importance of fluid balance would be required in order to implement such a system (Vincent & Mahendiran 2015).

Indications for a Fluid Balance Chart

Even though fluid balance is sometimes monitored unnecessarily, there are a variety of indications for why a patient may undergo fluid balance monitoring. These include:

• Increased fluid output due to:
  • Diarrhoea and vomiting
  • Increased urine output
  • High output stoma
  • Urinary catheter, urostomy or irrigation
  • Large open wounds
  • Pleural, wound or ascitic drain
  • Sweating
  • Sustained fever of 38°C
• Decreased oral intake due to:
  • Unconsciousness
  • Impaired swallowing
  • Impaired thirst reflex
  • Recieving enteral feeding or intravenous fluid
  • Restricted diet or nil by mouth
  • Malnutrition
• Reduced urine output due to:
  • Oliguria
  • Anuria
  • Acute kidney injury (AKI) or chronic kidney disease
  • Medications that increase the risk of AKI, including contrast medium, chemotherapy, antibiotic therapy, ACE inhibitors and diuretics
• Reduced independence due to:
  • Paralysis
  • Vision impairment
  • Delirium
  • Dementia
  • Stroke
  • Memory impairment
• Heart failure
• Acute illness
  • Sepsis
  • Bowel obstruction
  • Acute pancreatitis
  • Liver failure.

(Bannerman 2018)

Positive and Negative Fluid Balance

It’s crucial to use fluid balance charts in order to identify if a patient’s fluid balance is positive or negative, as these imbalances will need to be remedied (Bannerman 2018).

Positive Fluid Balance (Hypervolaemia)

A positive fluid balance indicates that the patient’s fluid input is higher than their output (Bannerman 2018). The condition describing excess fluid is known as hypervolaemia or fluid overload.

Hypervolaemia causes excess fluid in the circulatory system, which may overwork the heart and lead to pulmonary oedema (Granado & Mehta 2016).

Causes of Hypervolaemia

• Excessive fluid administered intraoperatively
• Heart failure
• Fluid resuscitation
• Kidney injury.

(Knott 2019)

Signs and Symptoms of Hypervolaemia

• Pulmonary oedema
• Oedema (swelling)
• Rapid weight gain
• High blood pressure
• Heart problems (including congestive cardiac failure).

(Fresenius Kidney Care 2019)

Treating Hypervolaemia

The following are some methods for treating and managing hypervolaemia, depending on the cause and medical advice received.

• Fluid restriction
• Offload the excess fluid - consider diuretics
• Consider dialysis in the case of kidney failure
• Monitor the patient’s heart rate; observe electrolyte imbalances and obtain blood tests
• Support any breathing complications
• Apply continuous haemodynamic monitoring
• Perform an ECG.

(Fresenius Kidney Care 2019)

Negative Fluid Balance (Hypovolaemia)

A negative fluid balance indicates that the patient’s fluid output is higher than their input (Bannerman 2018). The condition describing inadequate fluid is known as hypovolaemia.

Hypovolaemia is caused by significant fluid loss (hypovolaemic shock is defined as a loss of more than 20%), preventing the heart from circulating enough blood around the body. This can result in organ failure. Hypovolaemic shock is life-threatening (Nall 2021).

Causes of Hypovolaemia

• Significant and sudden blood loss (e.g. from wounds, accidents, endometriosis)
• Excessive diarrhoea
• Excessive vomiting
• Excessive sweating
• Surgery
• Severe burns
• Administration of diuretics.

(Nall 2021; Taghavi et al. 2022)

Signs and Symptoms of Hypovolaemia

• Hypotension
• Tachycardia/arrhythmias
• Decreased urine output
• Altered mental state
• Fluid and electrolyte imbalance
• Deranged clotting factors
• Signs of dehydration
• Cold and clammy skin
• Weak or absent pedal pulses (caused by blood being redirected to vital organs as there is not enough fluid in the circulatory system).

(Bannerman 2018; Procter 2022; Nall 2021)

Treating Hypovolaemia

• Administer intravenous fluid replacement therapy
• Administer intravenous blood products if required
• Replace electrolyte imbalance
• Support any breathing complications
• Apply continuous haemodynamic monitoring
• Perform an ECG.

(Nall 2021)

If confronted with either kind of imbalance, remember to escalate care if the patient deteriorates and perform basic life support if required. The patient may require critical care services.

Preventing Fluid Imbalance

In order to curb any preventable fluid imbalances, it is crucial to correctly record your patients’ fluid input and output. Having a well-documented fluid balance chart allows nurses to recognise trends that indicate a patient may be heading in a downward spiral.

Early detection of an imbalance will allow appropriate reversal and will reduce the risk of patients being admitted into critical care.

In order for this task to be performed adequately, it is essential that staff are educated about the importance of fluid balance, and that any necessary interventions are made to ensure that the process is completed properly.