1.1; Briefly outline the rationale for the use of hypertonic saline in:
1) Hyponatremia
2) Traumatic brain injury
1.2; List the possible complications of hypertonic saline administration.
1) Hyponatremia
Hyponatremia
• Severe hyponatremia (<120 mEq/L) can cause significant and permanent neurologic injury or death. In the event of seizures or acute collapse relatively rapid initial correction may be required.
• There is evidence that the severity and duration of hyponatremia may be related to cerebro pontine myelinolysis, normal saline and fluid restriction may be inadequate to increase sodium levels appropriately.
• Some conditions such as cerebral salt wasting or large GIT losses may result in losses that may not be able to be replaced by other means.
2) Traumatic brain injury
Traumatic Brain Injury
• The rationale for hypertonic saline compared with normal saline
• Better compensates for blood loss
• Improved CPP
• Reduces harmful inflammatory responses
• May prevent cerebral edema.
• Can be used as a continuous infusion
• Obviates the need for osmolality testing
Previous animal studies and smaller clinical trials suggested better outcomes in patients with TBI after use of hypertonic saline solution. The safety profile has been good, and some evidence suggests a potential survival benefit when hypertonic saline is given. However The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has stopped enrollment of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) into a Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) trial testing the effects of hypertonic saline solutions given before arrival at the emergency department. as early as possible after TBI.
1073 patients 6 month analysis – no difference.
1.2 List the possible complications of hypertonic saline administration.
• Hypernatremia
• Hyperchloraemic acidaemia
• Renal failure
• CCF/Pulmonary Oedema
• Neurological SAH
• rebound intracranial H/T
• Central Pontine Myelinolysis
Hypertonic saline for hyponatremia
It is straightforward: one wants to replace the missing electrolyte.
However, it may not be the first line therapy.
In brief summary:
Hypertonic saline for traumatic brain injury
Osmotherapy for control of increased intracranial pressure is discussed in greater detail elsewhere. In brief summary:
Complications of hypertonic saline therapy
One review of 3% saline among neuroICU patients has a nice table (Table 1) which lists the potential adverse effects of hypertonic saline administration. I will reproduce the relevant parts of this table below. As you can see, the college answer for this section relies significantly on a source either identical to this one, or very closely resembling it.
Lazaridis, Christos, et al. "High-Osmolarity Saline in Neurocritical Care: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis*." Critical care medicine 41.5 (2013): 1353-1360.
Adrogué, Horacio J. "Consequences of inadequate management of hyponatremia." American journal of nephrology 25.3 (2005): 240-249.
Froelich, Matteus, et al. "Continuous hypertonic saline therapy and the occurrence of complications in neurocritically ill patients*." Critical care medicine 37.4 (2009): 1433-1441.