IV Solutions

Physiologically, what is the advantage of giving a patient lactated ringers vs. normal saline ? I just started a new job where they use lactated ringer's primarily instead of saline

Lactated Ringer's has more electrolytes in it than 0.9% saline.

It also has potassium, calcium and lactate in addition to the sodium chloride.

Bicarbonate ions aren't stable, so if you need bicarbonate you can't give it directly as an IV. Lactate is converted to bicarbonate in the liver. If a patient has acidosis, and you need to neutralize the acid with bicarb, lactated ringers is a good choice.

Liquidsky, want to weigh in here ? I don't do emergency medicine or trauma, so I can't remember the last time I ordered this...

Doc

So, is Lactated Ringer's used mainly as an electrolyte correcting solution, or to correct acidosis?

I don't recall ever having it. I've had KCL 4 times in the E.R., due to diarrhea.

Large volumes of straight normal saline can produce metabolic acidosis, but the lactated ringers or similar solutions are frequently used to avoid this.

Eric