Saline or balanced crystalloids? The question of which resuscitation fluid to use in clinical practice seems to have been settled by recent research findings — or at least settled in favor of balanced crystalloids. But wait, our guests see slight differences that may affect your choice.

Patricia Kritek practices critical care medicine at the University of Washington. In this edition, she pilots a discussion with Todd Rice of Vanderbilt. He has studied the problem carefully, having published two studies in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2018; more recently, he’s written a meta-analysis of the problem in NEJM Evidence.

Listen in on a truly clinical conversation.

[Running time: 16 minutes]