Comparison of commercially available balanced salt solution and ringer’s lactate on extent of correction of metabolic acidosis in critically ill patients

Abstract

Introduction: Appropriate early fluid resuscitation is ubiquitous for critically ill patients with metabolic acidosis. Owing to harmful effects of normal saline, commercially prepared balanced salt solutions are being used. However, there is no study comparing use of Ringer’s Lactate (RL) and commercially available balanced salt solutions in critically ill patients. Materials and methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted during July 2016 to December 2017. Fifty adult patients admitted to intensive care unit with metabolic acidosis were randomized into group RL or group acetate solution (AC). Respective trial fluid was administered at 20 mL/kg/hour for first hour and 10 mL/kg/hour for second hour. Arterial blood gas analysis samples were taken 15 minutes apart. The fluid resuscitation was continued till pH got corrected to 7.3 or 2 hours, whichever was earlier. The primary aim was to compare time to correct metabolic acidosis in both the groups. The secondary outcomes were the extent of correction of metabolic acidosis, total volume of fluid used, and total cost per patient. Results: Demographic parameters, APACHE II score, and baseline investigations were comparable. The metabolic acidosis got corrected in 12 patients in group AC and 10 patients in group RL (p value = 0.66). The mean time for correction of metabolic acidosis was 57 ± 3.85 minutes in group RL and 56.25 ± 4.22 minutes in group AC (p value =0.95). The extent of correction of metabolic acidosis and total volume of fluid used was also comparable (p value = 0.05). However, the cost of fluid used was significantly higher in group AC (p value < 0.01). Conclusion: During administration of balanced salt solutions, RL or AC, in critically ill patients with metabolic acidosis, AC did not confer any advantage in time to or extent of correction of metabolic acidosis. Clinical significance: There is no difference in acid–base status with use of different types of balanced salt solutions for resuscitation in critically ill patients.