[PAR35]

Quick guess here - the balanced fluids are patented and have a premium cost, while the saline is a commodity that’s much cheaper for the hospitals.

Thus, the studies funded by the vendors, found the new product to be better.

[BipolarBob]

Balanced fluids, by contrast, are basically plasma electrolytes with some water.

Hook me up with some Gatorade and I'll be fine.

[Moonman62]

Quick guess here - the balanced fluids are patented and have a premium cost, while the saline is a commodity that’s much cheaper for the hospitals.

...

Best I can tell is that balanced fluids is the same as lactated Ringer’s and the cost is about the same. It’s been around forever.

[RedElement]

The typical “balanced” solution is called lactated Ringers. It is a generic, nonpatented solution. The expense in preparing the solutions (any of them) is the sterility and purity of the ingredients and packaging. The ingredients themselves are not the item.