What are the four phases of fluid therapy?

• A. Resuscitation, rehydration, maintenance, ongoing loss
• B. Assessment, stabilization, treatment, discharge
• C. First aid, stabilization, cure, prevention
• D. Diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, follow-up

Answer: (A)

Fluid therapy follows a practical sequence to quickly and safely restore and maintain fluid balance. The four phases are resuscitation, to rapidly restore circulating volume in shock or severe hypoperfusion; rehydration, to correct dehydration and deficit fluid losses with careful assessment and calculation; maintenance, to meet the patient’s ongoing daily fluid needs when intake is insufficient or there’s a restricted intake; and addressing ongoing losses, which means replacing fluids lost from sources like vomiting, diarrhea, wounds, fever, or polyuria so deficits don’t accumulate. This phased approach specifically targets different aspects of fluid status, making it the best framework for planning and adjusting therapy. The other options describe general care steps rather than the focused sequence used for managing fluid balance.