Preparation of 3% Saline Solution

Calculation and Preparation

• A 3% saline solution contains 3 grams of sodium chloride per 100 mL, and for 500 mL, 15 grams of sodium chloride are needed 1
• Normal saline (0.9%) contains 0.9 grams of sodium chloride per 100 mL, so in 500 mL, there are 4.5 grams of sodium chloride 2
• The American College of Cardiology recommends avoiding the use of hypertonic saline solutions as the first-line fluid for resuscitation, as balanced crystalloid solutions are superior for reducing mortality and adverse renal events 1, 3

Fluid Resuscitation

• The use of normal saline (0.9%) in large volumes can cause hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis and should be limited to a maximum of 1-1.5 liters 1, 4
• Balanced solutions such as Ringer's Lactate or Plasma-Lyte are preferred for fluid resuscitation in most clinical scenarios 1, 3