Saline Therapy in Tourniquet Shock

Abstract

Tourniquet shock in rats was treated by saline infusions ranging in amount from 6 to 25% of body weight. The 6% infusions gave temporary improvement and prolonged life but did not prevent death. With 12% infusions about half the animals survived the acute stage of shock. When the quantity of saline was equal to 18% of body weight the results were excellent and 84% of animals survived the shock state. Survival was not improved when the infusion amounted to 25% of body weight. The success of saline therapy in tourniquet shock was clearly dependent on the volume of fluid employed. A huge quantity of saline was required to obtain saturation of the tremendous edema potential in the injured leg and also to provide a surplus for retention in the circulation with relief of hypovolemia and hemoconcentration.