This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Braz, J. R. C. Articles by Vane, L. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Braz, J. R. C. Articles by Vane, L. A.

---

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Effects of Hypertonic Resuscitation

Department of Anesthesiology, UNESP School of Medicine, Botucatu-São Paulo, Brazil, anestesi{at}fmb.unesp.br

In Response:

We agree with Shields and Winter’s comments on hypertonic saline and its effects on hemodynamic and cardiovascular functions and arterial pH after hemorrhagic shock. In addition, as observed in our study (1), the use of chloride as the anion in hypertonic saline solution resulted in hyperchloremia and maintained the metabolic acidosis that may have affected gut mucosal acidosis. In our study (1), lactated Ringer’s and hydroxyethyl starch solutions, but not hypertonic saline solution, corrected gastric pH to prehemorrhage levels in dogs. Hypertonic saline produces metabolic acidosis by increasing the plasma chloride concentration relative to the plasma sodium concentration (2). The result is a reduction in the strong ion difference—the difference between positively and negatively charged electrolytes—which, in turn, produces an increase in free hydrogen ions to preserve electrical neutrality.

However, we cannot agree that the hypertonic saline solution is the only resuscitation agent that has the potential to attenuate organ injury in the shocked state. Our research (1) shows that hypertonic saline is a good choice in these cases, but other solutions like lactated Ringer’s, hydroxyethyl starch, and hypertonic saline plus dextran are very good products in relation to systemic and regional oxygenations.

References

1. Braz JRC, do Nascimento P Jr, Paiva Filho O, et al. The systemic and gastrointestinal oxygenation effects of hemorrhage shock resuscitation with hypertonic saline and hypertonic saline 6% dextran-70: A comparative study in dogs. Anesth Analg 2004;99:536–46.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
2. Prough DS, White RT. Acidosis associated with perioperative saline administration: Dilution or delusion? Anesthesiology 2000;93:1167–9.[Web of Science][Medline]

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Braz, J. R. C. Articles by Vane, L. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Braz, J. R. C. Articles by Vane, L. A.