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The role of hypertonic saline in neurotrauma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2008

H. White ,
D. Cook  and
B. Venkatesh
H. White
Affiliation:
QE II Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology, Brisbane, Australia
D. Cook
Affiliation:
University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Department of Intensive Care, Brisbane, Australia
B. Venkatesh*
Affiliation:
University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Department of Intensive Care, Brisbane, Australia
*
Correspondence to: Bala Venkatesh, Department of Intensive Care, Princess Alexandra Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4102, Australia. E-mail: bala_venkatesh@health.qld.gov.au; Tel: +61 7 3240 2111; Fax: +61 7 3636 1847
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Summary

Animal and human studies suggest that hypertonic saline is a potential therapeutic agent to assist with the medical treatment of patients with traumatic brain injury. It may have a place as osmotherapy to decrease brain size, predominately of uninjured brain and has several potential advantages over mannitol. Hypertonic saline has clinically desirable physiological effects on cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure and inflammatory responses in models of neurotrauma. Animal studies support its use, but definitive human trials using mortality end-points in brain trauma are lacking. Hypertonic saline may be considered a therapeutic adjunct to the medical management of traumatic brain injury, awaiting definitive evidence to support routine use.

Keywords

SALINE SOLUTION HYPERTONICINTRACRANIAL PRESSUREINTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSIONMANNITOL
Type
Original Article
Information
European Journal of Anaesthesiology , Volume 25 , Issue S42 , February 2008 , pp. 104 - 109
Copyright
Copyright © European Society of Anaesthesiology 2008

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