Fluid resuscitation after traumatic brain injury with hypovolemic shock: Still a bloody business?

The author comments on the study by Shellington et al which investigated the effectiveness of polynitroxylated pegylated hemoglobin (PNP-Hb) for fluid resuscitation of traumatic patients with hemorrhagic shock in rats. He stresses that the strength of the study includes the use of the combined in vitro and in vivo approach, experimental technique in vivo, the experimental protocol and the use of relevant control compounds. He also cites the weak points of the study including the lack of insight into the neuroprotective mechanisms of PNP-Hb.