Saline Health Dictionary

A solution of salt (sodium chloride).

“Normal saline” solution has the same concentration as body fluids and may be given by intravenous infusion to replace fluids lost in severe dehydration.

Normal saline is a solution containing 0·9 per cent of sodium chloride (common salt). Saline is used clinically to dilute drugs given by injection; it is also given as an intravenous infusion to restore blood volume if blood loss from accident or operation is not too serious, or to tide a patient over until PLASMA or blood for TRANSFUSION becomes available.

Saline is also given orally to severely dehydrated children or adults suffering from diarrhoea and, in particular, CHOLERA.

(normal saline, physiological saline) n. a solution containing 0.9% *sodium chloride. Saline may be used clinically for irrigating wounds, treating sodium depletion (by intravenous infusion), as a diluent for drugs, and as an ingredient of plasma substitutes.