[Fluid management - which fluid for what type of patients?].

There is a renewed discussion about the role of crystalloids and natural as well as synthetic colloids in fluid resuscitation. Based on the currently available evidence the choice of fluid replacement does not influence mortality. However, there is increasing evidence that due to unwarranted organ effects of the specific replacement fluids, individual subgroups of patients may be preferentially treated either with cristalloids or colloids. © Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York.