Banana bag
Encyclopedia
A banana bag is a bag of IV fluids containing vitamins and minerals. The bags typically contain thiamine
, folic acid
, and 3 grams of magnesium sulfate
, and are usually used to replenish nutritional deficiencies or correct a chemical imbalance
in the human body.
The multi-vitamin solution has a yellow color, hence the term "banana bag".
The solution is typically infused over four to eight hours or as per physician's orders.
to correct acute magnesium deficiencies. They may be beneficial for patients with terminal illness because magnesium can mitigate nerve pain and relieve muscle pain and cramps.
They are most often used for alcoholics who need thiamine to prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
. Chronic alcoholics can suffer significant whole-body magnesium deficiencies.
Thiamine
Thiamine or thiamin or vitamin B1 , named as the "thio-vitamine" is a water-soluble vitamin of the B complex. First named aneurin for the detrimental neurological effects if not present in the diet, it was eventually assigned the generic descriptor name vitamin B1. Its phosphate derivatives are...
, folic acid
Folic acid
Folic acid and folate , as well as pteroyl-L-glutamic acid, pteroyl-L-glutamate, and pteroylmonoglutamic acid are forms of the water-soluble vitamin B9...
, and 3 grams of magnesium sulfate
Magnesium sulfate
Magnesium sulfate is a chemical compound containing magnesium, sulfur and oxygen, with the formula MgSO4. It is often encountered as the heptahydrate epsomite , commonly called Epsom salt, from the town of Epsom in Surrey, England, where the salt was distilled from the springs that arise where the...
, and are usually used to replenish nutritional deficiencies or correct a chemical imbalance
Chemical imbalance
Chemical imbalance is one hypothesis about the cause of mental illness. Other causes that are debated include psychological and social causes....
in the human body.
The multi-vitamin solution has a yellow color, hence the term "banana bag".
Composition
The typical composition of a banana bag is 1 litre of normal saline (sodium chloride 0.9%) with:- ThiamineThiamineThiamine or thiamin or vitamin B1 , named as the "thio-vitamine" is a water-soluble vitamin of the B complex. First named aneurin for the detrimental neurological effects if not present in the diet, it was eventually assigned the generic descriptor name vitamin B1. Its phosphate derivatives are...
100 mg - Folic acidFolic acidFolic acid and folate , as well as pteroyl-L-glutamic acid, pteroyl-L-glutamate, and pteroylmonoglutamic acid are forms of the water-soluble vitamin B9...
1 mg - MVI 1 amp (MultivitaminMultivitaminA multivitamin is a preparation intended to supplement a human diet with vitamins, dietary minerals, and other nutritional elements. Such preparations are available in the form of tablets, capsules, pastilles, powders, liquids, and injectable formulations...
for infusion, 1 ampule) - 3 grams of magnesium sulfateMagnesium sulfateMagnesium sulfate is a chemical compound containing magnesium, sulfur and oxygen, with the formula MgSO4. It is often encountered as the heptahydrate epsomite , commonly called Epsom salt, from the town of Epsom in Surrey, England, where the salt was distilled from the springs that arise where the...
The solution is typically infused over four to eight hours or as per physician's orders.
Uses
Banana bags are used in the Intensive Care UnitIntensive Care Unit
thumb|220px|ICU roomAn intensive-care unit , critical-care unit , intensive-therapy unit/intensive-treatment unit is a specialized department in a hospital that provides intensive-care medicine...
to correct acute magnesium deficiencies. They may be beneficial for patients with terminal illness because magnesium can mitigate nerve pain and relieve muscle pain and cramps.
They are most often used for alcoholics who need thiamine to prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome is a manifestation of thiamine deficiency, or beriberi. This is usually secondary to alcohol abuse...
. Chronic alcoholics can suffer significant whole-body magnesium deficiencies.