Comparison of the effects of two different formulas of fluids in craniotomy patients

Intraoperative fluid management of the patients who had undergone neurosurgery presents special challenges for the anesthesiologist. In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of two fluid combinations (half-normal + bicarbonate with saline + Ringer's lactate) on brain relaxation, and acid, base, and hemodynamic balance in patients undergoing elective craniotomy surgery.

This randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial study was done on 50 patients, of age 20-60 years, undergoing craniotomy in Alzahra Hospital in 2012. They were divided in two groups of 25 patients each. In the control group, after the patients received hypertonic saline, normal saline serum and Ringer's lactate was administered, and in the half-normal study group, 80 ml of sodium bicarbonate for every liter of it was added. Arterial blood gas (ABG) was taken before the last suture. Brain relaxation before dura opening was registered.

There was no significant difference in heart rate changes (P = 0.054). No significant difference was observed in the mean arterial pressure between the two groups (P = 0.99). Changes in pH, HCO3, and BE were not significantly different (P = 0.99) between the two groups. Urine output in half-normal saline group was significantly higher than in normal saline group. The mean bleeding volume was higher in normal saline group, but was not significantly different (P = 0.54). The mean volume of injected blood was higher in half-normal group with a significant difference (P = 0.54). The injected blood volume mean in half-normal group was higher with no significant difference (P = 0.55). The mean of brain relaxation was not different (P = 0.5).

These two fluids did not show any significant differences in the studied variables in this research.