Question

In a trauma situation, it is acceptable to administer either normal saline or lactated Ringer's to your patient for volume replacement. What is the primary benefit of choosing lactated Ringer's?

A. It will stay in the vascular system longer, promoting blood pressure

B. It has the ability to carry red blood cells

C. It helps decrease acidosis in a hypovolemic patient

D. It helps increase acidosis in the hypovolemic patient

Answer 1

Lactated Ringer's helps to decrease acidosis in hypovolemic patients by metabolizing lactic acid to bicarbonate, which corrects metabolic acidosis, and it's isotonic nature aligns with blood osmolarity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary benefit of choosing lactated Ringer's over normal saline for volume replacement in a trauma situation is that it helps decrease acidosis in a hypovolemic patient. This benefit is critical because lactic acid in the Ringer's solution is metabolized to bicarbonate, aiding in buffering pH levels in the blood, thereby helping to correct metabolic acidosis that can occur in states of shock or severe blood loss. Normal saline and lactated Ringer's are both isotonic solutions, which is important because they have the same osmolarity as blood, preventing red blood cells from undergoing hemolysis.