A COMPARISON OF 3% HYPERTONIC SALINE AND MANNITOL FOR BRAIN RELAXATION DURING ELECTIVE SUPRATENTORIAL BRAIN TUMOUR SURGERY

Brain tumours may cause disturbances of cerebral auto-regulation & the blood brain barrier (BBB). These effects could possibly have an unfavourable influence on brain condition. To compare the effects of the application of a bolus hypertonic saline with those of mannitol on intraoperative brain relaxation. Ninety patients of ASA grade II and III in the age group >18 years with supratentorial brain tumours posted for elective brain tumour surgery were studied in the current study. They were randomly allocated into two groups. Each group enrolled with 45 patients- Group HTS : receiving 160 ml of 3% hypertonic saline. Group M : receiving 150 ml of 20% mannitol. Patients from both groups were induced with injection fentanyl, propofol & rocuronium. Maintained with N2O: O2 in a ratio of 2:1 combined with isoflurane, fentanyl and vecuronium. End tidal Co2 pressure were maintained between 35-40 mm Hg. Arterial blood pressure were kept within baseline value ± 20. Hence application of hypertonic saline is a more effective method for brain relaxation in patients posted for elective supratentorial brain tumours surgery and can be a great value in routine practice.