Difference Between Hartmann’s Solution and Normal Saline

The key difference between Hartmann’s solution and normal saline is that Hartmann’s solution (also called Ringer’s lactate solution or sodium lactate solution) contains sodium chloride, sodium lactate, potassium chloride, and calcium chloride in water whereas normal saline contains sodium chloride in water.

Both Hartmann’s solution and normal saline are useful for medicinal purposes. Hartmann’s solution’s major use is as a replacing fluid in patients who has a low blood volume or low blood pressure. There are many uses of normal saline; it is useful as a cleaning agent for wounds, helps to remove contact lenses and to avoid dehydration. There are many other differences between Hartmann’s solution and normal saline as discussed below.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Hartmann’s Solution
3. What is Normal Saline
4. Side by Side Comparison – Hartmann’s Solution vs Normal Saline in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Hartmann’s Solution?

Hartmann’s solution is a mixture of sodium chloride, sodium lactate, potassium chloride, and calcium chloride in water. Therefore, this solution contains important ions such as potassium ions, sodium ions, chloride ions, lactate ions and calcium ions. Moreover, it has some other names such as Ringer’s lactate solution and sodium lactate solution.

The medical uses of this solution include; use as a replacing fluid for patients having low blood pressure and low blood volume, to treat metabolic acidosis (only if it’s not lactic acidosis),  to wash eyes in a chemical burn, etc. However, there are side effects as well; allergic reactions, volume overload, high blood calcium conditions, etc.

What is Normal Saline?

Normal saline is a mixture of sodium chloride and water. The concentration of sodium chloride in water may vary from a low level to a high level. However, when we refer to the term “normal saline” it describes a solution having 0.90% concentration. The pH should be 5.5 (in the range of 4.5 to 7.0). Moreover, this solution has a less amount of ions. There are only sodium ions and chloride ions present.

The medicinal uses of normal saline include; to clean wounded areas on the skin, helps to remove contact lenses, help to avoid eye drying, to treat dehydration, etc. In addition, there are some side effects of this solution, for example, fluid overload, swelling, acidosis and high levels of sodium in the blood.

What is the Difference Between Hartmann’s Solution and Normal Saline?

Both Hartmann’s solution and normal saline are important medicinal solutions. These liquids contain sodium chloride as a common constituent in water. The Hartmann’s solution contains more constituents that are absent in normal saline. Therefore, regarding medicinal uses, there is difference between Hartmann’s solution and normal saline.

Summary – Hartmann’s Solution vs Normal Saline

Hartmann’s solution and normal saline have medicinal uses. Both these are consist of sodium and chloride ions in water. But Hartmann’s solution has many ions other than sodium and chloride ions. The key difference between Hartmann’s solution and normal saline is that Hartmann’s solution contains sodium chloride, sodium lactate, potassium chloride, and calcium chloride in water whereas normal saline contains sodium chloride in water.

Reference:

1. “Ringer’s Lactate Solution.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 June 2018. Available here 
2. “Saline (Medicine).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 June 2018. Available here  

Image Courtesy:

1.’Ringer-Lactat-Infusion’By Stefan Reitzner – Own work, (CC BY-SA 2.0 de) via Commons Wikimedia  
2.’Sól fizjologiczna’By LoMit – Own work, (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia