Hypertonic saline reduces skeletal muscle injury and associated remote organ injury following ischemia reperfusion injury.
OBJECTIVE
Pharmacological modulation of skeletal muscle reperfusion injury after traumaassociated ischemia may improve limb salvage rates and prevent the associated systemic sequelae. Resuscitation with hypertonic saline restores the circulating volume and has favorable effects on tissue perfusion and blood pressure. We evaluated the effects of treatment with a bolus of hypertonic saline on skeletal muscle ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury and the associated end-organ injury.


METHODS
Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 27) were randomized into 3 groups: (1) a control group, (2) an IR group treated with normal saline, and (3) an IR group treated with hypertonic saline. Bilateral hindlimb ischemia was induced by application of a rubber band proximal to the level of the greater trochanters for 2.5 h. The treatment groups received either normal saline (4 mL/kg) or hypertonic saline (4 mL/kg) prior to tourniquet release. Following 12 h of reperfusion, the tibialis anterior muscle was dissected and muscle function was assessed electrophysiologically. The animals were then killed, and skeletal muscle and lung tissue were harvested for evaluation.


RESULTS
Hypertonic saline significantly attenuated skeletal muscle reperfusion injury, as shown by reduced myeloperoxidase content, wet-to-dry ratio, and electrical properties of skeletal muscle. There was a corresponding reduction in lung injury, as demonstrated by reduced myeloperoxidase content and reduced wet-to-dry ratio.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with hypertonic saline attenuates skeletal muscle ischemia reperfusion injury and its associated systemic sequelae.
Department of Academic Surgery, Cork University Hospital and National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland. dillon.jp@hotmail.com
John P
JP
Dillon
Alan J
AJ
Laing
John R S
JR
Chandler
Conor J
CJ
Shields
Juan H
JH
Wang
Anthony
A
McGuinness
Henry P
HP
Redmond
D000818:Animals; D023821:Limb Salvage / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic