Objective To investigate the effect of 23.4% hypertonic saline(HTS)on intracranial pressure(ICP), cerebral peffusion pressure(CPP), cerebral blood flow(CBF)in poor-grade patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH).Methods Sixteen patients(Glasgow coma score ≤ 8)with poor-grade SAH received 23.4% hypertonic saline intravenously for elevated ICP.ICP, mean arterial pressure(MAP), CPP and the middle cerebral artery flow velocity(FV)were observed and recorded before and at 30, 60, 90,120, 150, 180 min after the injection respectively.Results Thirty minutes postinfusion, a significant increase in MAP, CPP, FV was seen together with a decrease in ICP(P<0.05).ICP remained reduced for 180 minutes, CPP and FV remained elevated for 90 minutes(P < 0.05).Conclusions HTS can significantly decrease ICP and improve CBF in patients with poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage and may be used for reversal of pathophysiologic changes caused by cerebral ischemia.

Humans ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; therapy