Use of oral rehydration solution and intravenous fluid in home settings for adults with short bowel syndrome

Although both oral rehydration solutions (ORSs) and intravenous fluids (IVFs) were initially developed to treat severe dehydration from diarrhea due to cholera, they are the mainstays of treatment for patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS). Advances in medical care have provided an expansion of new concepts on existing ideas, including adaptations of ORSs, pharmaceutical introductions of new oral and enteral products, and supply chain limitations of intravenous products necessitating the development of novel clinical practices. The evaluation and understanding of a patient's hydration status, socioeconomic status, compliance to therapies, and, finally, the ability to obtain actual products all play an integral role in determining the best plan of care to manage fluid balance in the presence of SBS. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach, including a dietitian, medical provider, pharmacist, and others, is crucial to create a collaborative and comprehensive look at a complicated patient to individualize treatment options. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the historical and current use of ORSs and IVFs to maintain fluid balance and combat dehydration from SBS, describe the challenges patients and healthcare providers have been faced with, and provide recommendations for future research to overcome these barriers.