The good receipt for the kidneys: salty…but not too much

After its first application in 1831, during the second cholera pandemic (1), “normal” saline has become one of the most commonly used crystalloid solutions worldwide (2) and over one million litres are administered intravenously everyday (1). Nevertheless, the non-physiological composition of the 0.9% saline and its related risks of kidney injury have recently alarmed intensivists and other clinicians and the so called “balanced crystalloids” have been studied as safer alternatives.