Fig. 2

Arterial blood pH, bicarbonate, chloride, creatinine concentration and catecholamine doses. Mean values (standard deviation) of arterial blood pH (A), bicarbonate (B), chloride concentration (C) and creatinine (D) as well as median catecholamine doses (E, using the formula: dobutamine (mg/h) + 100 × epinephrine (mg/h) + 100 × norepinephrine (mg/h)) and norepinephrine (F) in patients treated with saline (Saline, black) and balanced crystalloids (Balanced, red). n.s. not significant. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001