Balanced Electrolyte Solution or Saline in the Critically Ill

To the Editor: In a multicenter trial, Finfer et al. (March 3 issue)(1) addressed an important clinical issue: whether to use a multielectrolyte solution or saline in critically ill adults. In accordance with the protocol, patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) were assigned to receive balanced multielectrolyte solution (BMES) or saline during their entire stay in the ICU. The median duration of treatment with the assigned trial fluid was 6.0 days (interquartile range, 3.0 to 10.0) in both groups. We can thus assume that 75% of the patients remained in the ICU at the end of day 3 and . . .

Automated summary

This article presents a multicenter trial investigating the use of multielectrolyte solution or saline in critically ill adults. According to the protocol, patients in the ICU received different fluid treatments for a median duration of 6.0 days. Further research is needed to examine the patients' condition at the end of day 3.