U.S. Halts Trial of Concentrated Saline Solution for Shock

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A clinical trial studying the use of concentrated saline solution in trauma patients suffering from severe shock due to severe bleeding has been halted early by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute because there was no benefit to patients.

In the study, the solution was given to patients as they rode in ambulances to hospital. But patients who received the concentrated saline solution were no more likely to survive than those who received a normal saline solution.

Saline solution is widely used in trauma patients to compensate for blood loss and buy time until they can receive blood transfusions in the hospital. It's believed concentrated saline solution compensates for blood loss more effectively, lessens excessive inflammatory responses, and prevents brain swelling, the NHLBI said.

A parallel study of concentrated saline for traumatic brain injury without shock continues.