Pediatric trauma anesthesia

Abstract

Identification of 'silver bullets' in trauma care continues to be elusive. The positive effects of hypertonic resuscitation fluids — improved mortality, macro and micro hemodynamics, and reduction of cerebral edema — in animal models is equivocal in adult human series and untested in children. No single intervention has yet reduced morbidity in brain injury. Breakthroughs appear close but will require validation in children.