Word parts
What it means
Too much chloride in the blood. It is often seen with large amounts of normal saline, with dehydration, and when the body loses bicarbonate, as in severe diarrhea. It often goes along with high sodium and metabolic acidosis.
For the nurse
Look at the chloride level with sodium and bicarbonate, and check intake and output. Report a rising level in a client getting large volumes of saline.
At a glance
| Normal range | Chloride 98–106 mEq/L [98–106 mmol/L] |
|---|---|
| Also written | hyperchloraemia, hyperchloremic |
Easy to confuse with
hypochloremia
A blood chloride level below normal, under 98 mEq/L.
Related terms
electrolyte
A mineral that carries an electric charge when dissolved in body fluids, such as sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride.
NS
An abbreviation used most often for normal saline, a solution of 0.9% sodium chloride in water.
hypochloremia
A blood chloride level below normal, under 98 mEq/L.