Dehydration therapy and hypotension in post-resuscitation cerebral oedema, and application of intra-ocular pressure measurement--a review of resuscitation work, part I.

The following issues in post-resuscitative cerebral oedema and hypotension were discussed: (1) the concept and importance of secondary cerebral oedema; (2) 'hypovolaemic' hypotension and cerebral oedema, aetiology, contradiction and treatment; (3) fluid intake control and dehydration effect; and (4) diuresis and mannitol-nephrosis. Although there is still no evidence to show that dehydration therapy directly plays a distinct role on the restoration of injured cerebral cells, we believe that prompt and effective dehydration treatment would be beneficial to the recovery of cerebral damage. In addition, the application of intra-ocular pressure (IOP) measurement as an indirect criterion of cerebral oedema and hypovolaemia was introduced.