Effect of resuscitative fluids upon physical properties of blood perfusing the brain

Acute physiologic changes induced by the infusion of resuscitative fluids may be harmful, resulting in the clinical sequelae of pulmonary and intraventricular hemorrhage. Using a chronically catheterized lamb model, changes in plasma sodium concentration, osmolality, hematocrit, glucose, colloid osmotic pressure, and arterial pressure were quantified in blood directly perfusing the brain, following distal infusions of fluids commonly used during neonatal resuscitation: molar and .5M NaHCO3, D10W and D25W, and whole blood. Distal infusion of hypertonic solutions resulted in acute alterations in electrolyte and osmotic equilibrium in the common carotid artery. All infused solutions caused a brief elevation in mean blood pressure; whole blood transfusion resulted in a sustained increase in blood pressure.