| Drug notes |
| Osmotic fluid |
| Use |
| Indications |
|
• Emergency reduction in raised intracranial pressure in acute head injury • Pupil asymmetry in the context of an acute head injury in an anaesthetised patient |
| Cautions |
| • Should be carefully distinguished from other IV fluids, particularly normal saline • Take care with different % hypertonic saline solutions • Preferably given through a large peripheral line |
| Dose |
| • Adults: 100ml bolus
• Children: 2ml/kg bolus to a maximum
of 100ml Dose may be repeated after advice |
| Special groups |
| • Safe in elderly patients • Unknown safety in pregnancy |
| Side effects |
| • No regular immediate side effects |
| Presentation |
| 500ml bag/polyfusor of clear solution |
| Administration |
| Single bolus IV or IO using 50ml syringe |
| Drug information |
|
Not a controlled drug Can be kept at room temperature |
| Further information |
| BNF: no information |