[Hypodermoclysis hydration in the elderly]. / Idratazione con ipodermoclisi nel paziente anziano.

ABSTRACT

Hydration with hypodermoclysis in elderly patients. Hypodermoclysis is a technique which consists in the administration of fluids into the subcutaneous tissue for the treatment of mild to moderate dehydration. The article starts from the case of a 74 year old man that, after a stroke, was unable to eat or drink, and was then hydrated with continuous hypodermoclysis for 45 days, obtaining a recovery of the clinical and psychological conditions. An update of the available knowledge on hypodermoclisis, together with some comments on the clinical case are presented.