User:MeeraEJohn/Osmotherapy
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Osmotherapy is defined as the use of osmotically active substances to reduce the volume of intracranial contents. Osmotherapy serves as the primary medical treatment for cerebral edema. The primary goal of osmotherapy is to improve elastance and decrease intracranial volume by removing free water from brain (extra/ intracellular space) into vascular compartment by creating an osmotic gradient between the blood and brain. Normal serum osmolality ranges from 280-290 mOsm/L and serum osmolality to cause water removal without much side effects ranges from 300-320 mOsm/L. Usually, 90 mL of space is created in the intra-cranial vault by 1.6% reduction in brain water content.[1] Osmotherapy has cerebral dehydrating effects.[2] Basic mechanism behind osmotherapy: osmotic agents--> increase serum osmolarity-->shifts fluid from intracellular compartment to intravascular compartment-->Shrinks brain-->decreases ICP. [3] [4]
This article was the subject of an educational assignment in 2013 Q3. Further details were available on the "Education Program:Georgia Institute of Technology/Introduction to Neuroscience (Fall 2013)" page, which is now unavailable on the wiki. |