Banana Bag - What To Pack In Hospital Bag

A banana bag (or rally pack) 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".

Composition

The typical composition of a banana bag is 1 liter of normal saline (sodium chloride 0.9%) with:

• Thiamine 100 mg
• Folic acid 1 mg
• Multivitamin for infusion (MVI), 1 ampule
• Magnesium sulfate 3 g

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 Unit to correct acute magnesium deficiencies. They are stated to be beneficial for patients with terminal illness because magnesium can mitigate nerve pain and relieve muscle pain and cramps.

Rally packs or Banana Bags are most often used for alcoholics who need thiamine to prevent Wernickeâ€"Korsakoff syndrome. Chronic alcoholics can suffer significant whole-body magnesium deficiencies.