Neurologist
-
Review Case Reports
Intraosseous Administration of Hypertonic Saline in Acute Brain-Injured Patients: A Prospective Case Series and Literature Review.
Central venous catheters are often used to administer hypertonic saline (HTS) but might be associated with serious complications. Intraosseous (IO) access is an alternative method of medication and fluid delivery which is not associated with life-threatening complications and can be inserted faster than CVCs. ⋯ In this prospective case series, IO administration of 3% HTS was feasible, well-tolerated on the basis of nonverbal indicators of pain in the majority of patients and resulted in an appropriate rise in serum sodium levels. IO fills a niche among vascular access options for HTS, in emergent neurological situations when central venous access is not readily available or peripheral intravenous access is difficult to obtain.