Intraosseous Hypertonic Saline Solution for Resuscitation of Uncontrolled, Exsanguinating Liver Injury in Young Swine

Fluid resuscitation administered before hemorrhage control for trauma victims sustaining blunt abdominal injury is controversial. Prehospital fluid resuscitation is limited by difficulty in delivering large volumes of fluid in the field and time delays associated with gaining vascular access. Venous access is often a clinical dilemma in severely hypovolemic children. Intraosseous infusion is considered a useful technique for the administration of fluids in emergency situations when peripheral intravascular access is not possible. This study investigated the effectiveness of intraosseous versus intravenous infusion of hypertonic saline solution in an uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock swine model. We also tested the effect of the different sites of infusion on the intra-abdominal bleeding. Relevant hemodynamic parameters were monitored and blood samples were collected. After liver injury, 20 anesthetized immature pigs were randomized to three groups: intraosseous access, intravenous access and control. After 20 min of uncontrolled hemorrhage, the hypertonic saline solution begins in the intraosseous access and intravenous access groups of animals. Thirty minutes later, the animals were killed and intra-abdominal blood loss was measured. All the pigs presented lower pressures and lower cardiac output after 20 min of hemorrhagic shock. The intravenous and intraosseous access groups did not show a better hemodynamic performance after 10 min of fluid resuscitation. At the end of the experiment, all animals were hemodynamically similar without an improved answer to a fluid resuscitation. There were no significant differences between groups regarding intra-abdominal blood loss. It was concluded that the hypertonic saline solution in this experimental model did not promote hemodynamic improvement and there were no differences between the two sites of fluid resuscitation regarding intra-abdominal blood loss.