A banana bag (or rally pack) is a bag of IV fluids containing vitamins and minerals. The bags typically contain thiamine, folic acid, and magnesium sulfate, and are usually used to correct nutritional deficiencies or chemical imbalances in the human body. The solution has a yellow color, hence the term "banana bag".
Video Banana bag
Composition
The typical composition of a banana bag is 1 liter of normal saline (sodium chloride 0.9%) with:
- Thiamine 100 mg
- Folic acid 1 mg
- Multivitamin for infusion (MVI), 1 ampule
- Magnesium sulfate 3 g
The solution is typically infused over four to eight hours or as per physician's orders.
Maps Banana bag
Uses
Banana bags are used in the intensive care unit to correct acute magnesium deficiencies. They are stated to be beneficial for patients with terminal illness because magnesium can mitigate nerve pain and relieve muscle pain and cramps.
Banana bags are most often used for alcoholics who need thiamine to prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Chronic alcoholics can suffer significant whole-body magnesium deficiencies.
See also
- Intravenous therapy
References
Source of article : Wikipedia