Author: Gretchen Hinson, MD

Educational Pearls:

• In most healthcare settings, normal saline (NS) has become ubiquitous as an intravenous fluid despite some potential drawbacks
• Compared to normal saline, a balanced crystalloid (either lactated Ringer's or Plasma-Lyte) was associated with a lower composite endpoint of mortality, renal replacement therapy, and renal injury in SMART (Isotonic Solutions and Major Adverse Renal Events Trial)
• Balanced crystalloids such as lactate Ringer's may be preferable in more critically ill populations

References

Yau YW, Kuan WS. Choice of crystalloids in sepsis: a conundrum waiting to be solved. Ann Transl Med. 2016;4(6):121. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.02.09

Semler MW, Self WH, Wanderer JP, et al. Balanced Crystalloids versus Saline in Critically Ill Adults. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(9):829–839. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1711584

Summarized by Will Dewispelaere, MS3 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD