Treatment of refractory hypovolaemic shock by 7.5% sodium chloride injections

Injections of hyperosmotic (7.5%) sodium chloride (100-400 ml) were given to 12 patients in terminal hypovolaemic shock who had not responded to vigorous volume replacement and corticosteroid and dopamine infusions. Hyperosmotic sodium chloride promptly reversed the shock in 11 of these patients. The immediate effects of the NaCl injections were a moderate rise in arterial pressure, the resumption of urine flow, and recovery of consciousness. These effects tended to persist for a few hours. The hyperosmotic infusion also reduced isosmotic fluid requirement by 90%.