USE OF HYPERTONIC (3-PERCENT)SALINE ACETATE INFUSION IN THE TREATMENTOF CEREBRAL EDEMA - EFFECT ON INTRACRANIAL-PRESSURE AND LATERAL DISPLACEMENT OF THE BRAIN/

Objective: To determine the effect of continuous hypertonic (3%) salin e/acetate infusion on intracranial pressure (ICP) and lateral displace ment of the brain in patients with cerebral edema. Design: Retrospecti ve chart review. Settings: Neurocritical care unit of a university hos pital. Patients: Twenty seven consecutive patients with cerebral edema (30 episodes), including patients with head trauma (n = 8), postopera tive edema (n = 5), nontraumatic intracranial hemorrhage (n = 8), and cerebral infarction (n = 6). Intervention: Intravenous infusion of 3% saline/acetate to in crease serum sodium concentrations to 145 to 155 mmol/L. Measurements and Main Results: A reduction in mean ICP within the first 12 hrs correlating with an increase in the serum sodium conc entration was observed in patients with head trauma (r(2) = .91, p = . 03), and postoperative edema (r(2) = .82, p = .06), but not in patient s with nontraumatic intracranial hemorrhage or cerebral infarction. In patients with head trauma, the beneficial effect of hypertonic saline on ICP was short-lasting, and after 72 hrs of infusion, four patients required intravenous pentobarbital due to poor ICP control. Among the 21 patients who had a repeat computed tomographic scan within 72 hrs of initiating hypertonic sa line, lateral displacement of the brain wa s reduced in patients with head trauma (2.8 +/- 1.4 to 1.1 +/- 0.9 [SE M]) and in patients with postoperative edema (3.1 +/- 1.6 to 1.1 +/- 0 .7). This effect was not observed in patients with nontraumatic intrac ranial bleeding or cerebral infarction. The treatment was terminated i n three patients due to the development of pulmonary edema, and was te rminated in another three patients due to development of diabetes insi pidus. Conclusions: Hypertonic saline administration as a 3% infusion appears to be a promising therapy for cerebral edema in patients with head trauma or postoperative edema. Further studies are required to de termine the optimal duration of benefit and the specific patient popul ation that is most likely to benefit from this treatment.