Table 5.

Blood loss in studies comparing a balanced strategy with a saline-based strategy

Study	Group	Blood loss (ml)	P value between groups
Crystalloids only
Waters and colleagues [36]	Ringer's lactate	2,300 (1,600 to 3,500)	NS
	Isotonic saline	2,900 (1,930 to 4,000)
Boldt and colleagues [16]	Ringer's lactate	1,830 ± 380	NS
	Isotonic saline	1,730 ± 390
Colloids and crystalloids
Kulla and colleagues [21]	HES 130/0.42 + Ringer's acetate	1,156 ± 917	NS
	HES 130/0.42 + modified saline	1,228 ± 691
Boldt and colleagues [18]	HES 130/0.42 + modified RL	1,798 ± 1,220	NS
	HES 130/0.42 + isotonic saline	1,557 ± 1,165
Boldt and colleagues [19]	HES 130/0.42 + modified RL	1,510 ± 410	NS
	HES 130/0.42 + isotonic saline	1,380 ± 460
Boldt and colleagues [20]	HES 130/0.42 + modified RL	1,200 ± 290	< 0.05
	Albumin 5% + isotonic saline	1,520 ± 210
Boldt and colleagues [22]	HES 130/0.40 + modified RL	1,380 ± 460	NS
	Albumin 5% + isotonic saline	1,510 ± 410

HES, hydroxyethyl starch; RL, Ringer's lactate.