Hypertonic Saline Infusion Therapy in Patients with Increased Intracranial Pressure

Moon, Han Gun; Park, Sang Keun; Kim, Tae Hong; Shin, Hyung Shik; Hwang, Yong Soon

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
In severe head injury or postoperative patients with increased intracranial pressure(IICP) in spite of indroducing barbiturate coma therapy, mannitol, and diuretics infusion, we try hypertonic saline infusion therapy as a new treatment modality and observe its relating results and complications. METHODS: Eleven patients that were treated using hypertonic saline infusion were analyzed. They showed decreased Glasgow coma scale(GCS) or aggravated brain swelling on brain CT scan in spite of conventional therapy for IICP using barbiturate coma and mannitol infusion. We infused 3% hypertonic saline with the rate of 40~60cc/hour. Our goal in using 3% hypertonic saline is to increase the serum sodium level in the range of 150 to 155mEq/l. Serum electrolyte level were monitored every 6 hours and the rate of infusion was controlled according to the current serum sodium level. The therapy was continued until each patient demonstrated clinical improvement, complication of therapy, or lack of response. RESULTS: Six cases showed improvement of GCS. One case was expired due to lung problem even though GCS was improved. Two cases showed persistent vegetative state and other 2 cases never showed any response. All expired cases were head injury patients whose GCS score were lower than 5. There was no hypertonic saline infusion related complications. CONCLUSION: Hypertonic saline therapy are very easy and effective adjunctive therapeutic modality for the patient with severely IICP that is refractory to conventional method. To establish this method as standard therapeutic regimen for the intracranial hypertension, more cases analysis should be necessary to confirm the safety and effectiveness.