Furosemide vs Placebo for Brain Relaxation

Summary

Increased brain bulk may be problematic during brain surgery for tumors because it may limit surgical exposure and access to the surgical site. Mannitol, an osmotic diuretic, is commonly given to alleviate brain bulk, and sometimes furosemide in a small dose is added if mannitol alone is insufficient. It is unclear if adding this furosemide truly helps to diminish brain bulk, and it is possible that furosemide may cause too much diuresis, leading to dehydration and its side effects (e.g., low blood pressure). Our purpose is to investigate what the effects of furosemide are in the setting of brain surgery for tumors, specifically with regards to decreasing brain bulk and/or causing dehydration. Study Hypothesis: The addition of furosemide to mannitol will result in improved brain relaxation in human subjects undergoing craniotomy for brain tumor resection than that seen with mannitol alone. However, the combination of mannitol and furosemide will also lead to more significant intravascular volume depletion than that seen with mannitol alone.

Timeline

Start

2010-02

Primary completion

2012-03

Completion

2012-03

Publications

• Background Thenuwara K, Todd MM, Brian JE Jr. Effect of mannitol and furosemide on plasma osmolality and brain water. Anesthesiology. 2002 Feb;96(2):416-21. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200202000-00029.
• Background Todd MM, Cutkomp J, Brian JE. Influence of mannitol and furosemide, alone and in combination, on brain water content after fluid percussion injury. Anesthesiology. 2006 Dec;105(6):1176-81. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200612000-00017.
• Background Rudehill A, Lagerkranser M, Lindquist C, Gordon E. Effects of mannitol on blood volume and central hemodynamics in patients undergoing cerebral aneurysm surgery. Anesth Analg. 1983 Oct;62(10):875-80.
• Background Todd MM, Warner DS, Sokoll MD, Maktabi MA, Hindman BJ, Scamman FL, Kirschner J. A prospective, comparative trial of three anesthetics for elective supratentorial craniotomy. Propofol/fentanyl, isoflurane/nitrous oxide, and fentanyl/nitrous oxide. Anesthesiology. 1993 Jun;78(6):1005-20. doi: 10.1097/00000542-199306000-00002.
• Background Rozet I, Tontisirin N, Muangman S, Vavilala MS, Souter MJ, Lee LA, Kincaid MS, Britz GW, Lam AM. Effect of equiosmolar solutions of mannitol versus hypertonic saline on intraoperative brain relaxation and electrolyte balance. Anesthesiology. 2007 Nov;107(5):697-704. doi: 10.1097/01.anes.0000286980.92759.94.

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