Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of 3% hypertonic saline solution with 20% mannitol in treatment of intracranial hypertension in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. METHODS: An alternating treatment protocol was used to compare the efficacy of 160 mL 3% hypertonic saline solution (HSS) with 150 mL 20% mannitol for episodes of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. The dependent variables were the extent and duration of reduction of increased ICP after each event. RESULTS: Both 3% HSS and 20% mannitol rapidly decreased the ICP in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (P <0.01). No difference between two medications in the extent of duration of ICP and reduction of action (P >0.05). CONCLUSION: 3% HSS should be considered as the first-line osmotic drug in treatment of intracranial hypertension in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.