Traumatic shock and head injury: effects of fluid resuscitation on the brain

The effects of resuscitation of traumatic-hemorrhagic shock on the brain are unknown. Traumatic shock in sheep (fracture/crush injury, 2-hr hemorrhage to 40 mm Hg) was followed by resuscitation to baseline mean arterial pressure. Two groups without brain injury were resuscitated with lactated Ringer's (LR1, n = 7) or albumin (ALB1, n = 6). Focal brain injury was added in two further groups (LR2, n = 6; ALB2, n = 6). Hemodynamics, intracranial pressure (ICP), EEG, and colloid osmotic pressure (COP) were followed. Brain water (BW) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) were compared to those of controls (C, n = 7).

ICP rose in all groups. Animals without brain injury did not have increased brain water. Below are results for brain-injured animals after resuscitation (mean +/- SEM). (table; see text) Maintaining COP during initial resuscitation does not minimize cerebral edema: the effects of LR and ALB were similar in this setting. Focal brain injury causes edema but does not cause large increases in ICP with initial resuscitation.