The Plasma-Lyte 148 v Saline (PLUS) study protocol: a multicentre, randomised controlled trial of the effect of...

0.9% sodium chloride (saline) is the most commonly administered resuscitation fluid on a global basis but emerging evidence suggests that its high chloride content may have important adverse effects.

To describe the study protocol for the Plasma- Lyte 148 v Saline study, which will test the hypothesis that in critically ill adult patients the use of Plasma-Lyte 148 (a buffered crystalloid solution) for fluid therapy results in different 90-day all-cause mortality when compared with saline.

We will conduct this multicentre, blinded, randomised controlled trial in approximately 50 intensive care units in Australia and New Zealand. We will randomly assign 8800 patients to either Plasma-Lyte 148 or saline for all resuscitation fluid, maintenance fluid and compatible drug dilution therapy while in the ICU for up to 90 days after randomisation.

The primary outcome is 90-day all-cause mortality; secondary outcomes include mean and peak creatinine concentration, incidence of renal replacement therapy, incidence and duration of vasoactive drug treatment, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital length of stay, and quality of life and health services use at 6 months.

The PLUS study will provide high-quality data on the comparative safety and efficacy of Plasma-Lyte 148 compared with saline for resuscitation and compatible crystalloid fluid therapy in critically ill adult patients.