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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