My name is Eric Hoste, and I work at Ghent University Hospital in Belgium. In my talk, I addressed the ongoing debate around whether colloids or crystalloids are superior for volume replacement in critically ill patients. Overall, the evidence shows that colloids are not superior to crystalloids in the general ICU population—they tend to be more expensive and are associated with a higher risk of side effects. However, there are certain subgroups of patients, such as those with severe sepsis, undergoing cardiac surgery, or suffering from cirrhosis, where colloids—particularly albumin—may offer specific benefits. In patients with cirrhosis, for instance, albumin has been shown to support better kidney function. These findings suggest that while colloids may not be the first choice for all, their targeted use in select populations warrants further investigation.

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