NS or LR: The IV Fluid Battle May Have Ended.

IV fluids?! Does it really make a difference if the patient receives normal saline (NS) or Lactated Ringers (LR)? Well, for short bouts of rehydration (1L to 2 L), probably not. However, data now confirms that prolonged IV therapy with NS results in poorer outcomes compared to LR! In this episode, we will review the basic science of a “balanced“ IV fluid and review the data which has now placed LR at the forefront of IV fluid hydration.