Table 1

Laboratory values at study end

Normal saline

Lactated Ringer's solution

p value

Sodium

137.9 ± 10.8

127.0 ± 8.2

0.432

Potassium

3.5 ± 0.2

4.1 ± 0.06

0.010

Calcium

1.22 ± 0.06

1.34 ± 0.01

0.039

Lactate

1.3 ± 0.3

6.0 ± 0.7

< 0.001

Bicarbonate

16.7 ± 1.7

27.8 ± 0.9

< 0.001

Partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide

44.7 ± 3.0

43.3 ± 0.6

0.647

pH

7.17 ± 0.03

7.41 ± 0.02

< 0.001

Haemoglobin

4.7 ± 0.39

5.9 ± 0.35

0.039

Haematocrit

12.7 ± 1.1

16.56 ± 1.2

0.028

Results are reported as means ± standard error of the mean. Animals resuscitated with normal saline were more acidaemic (despite having lower lactates), were more anaemic and had lower serum calcium and potassium levels.

Phillips et al. Critical Care 2009 13:R30   doi:10.1186/cc7736