Minimum base excess was lower in the saline group compared with the balanced regimen ( -4.5 mmol/L [ -6 to -2.4 ] vs -2.6 mmol/L [ -4 to -1 ] , P < 0.001 ) and maximum chloride was significantly higher in the saline group ( 109 mmol/L [ 107 to 111 ] vs 107 mmol/L [ 105 to 109 ] , P < 0.001 ) .