Abstract.Objectives: Resuscitation studies of hypertonic saline using controlled and uncontrolled hemorrhage models yield conflicting results with regard to efficacy. These disparate results reflect the use of models and resuscitation regimens that are not comparable between studies. This study evaluated the effects of comparable and clinically relevant resuscitation regimens of 7.5% sodium chloride/6% dextran 70 (HSD) and 0.9% sodium chloride (NS) in a near-fatal uncontrolled hemorrhage model. Methods: Thirty-six swine (14.2 to 21.4 kg) with 4-mm aortic tears were bled to a pulse pressure of 5 mm Hg (40-45 mL/kg). The animals were resuscitated with either NS or HSD administered in volumes that provided equivalent sodium loads at similar rates. Group II (n = 12) was resuscitated with 80 mL/kg of NS at a rate of 4 mL/kg/min. Group III (n = 12) received 9.6 mL/ kg of HSD at a rate of 0.48 mL/kg/min. In both groups, crystalloid resuscitation was followed by shed blood infusion (30 mL/kg) at a rate of 2 mL/kg/min. Group I (controls; n = 12) were not resuscitated. Results: One-hour mortality was significantly greater in group I (92%) as compared with group II (33%) and group III (33%) (Fisher's exact test; p = 0.004). Intraperitoneal hemorrhage was significantly greater in group II (34 Ϯ 20 mL/kg) and group III (31 Ϯ 13 mL/ kg) as compared with group I (5 Ϯ 2 mL/kg) (ANOVA; p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in hemodynamic parameters between groups II and III. Conclusion: In this model of severe uncontrolled hemorrhage, resuscitation with HSD or NS, administered in volumes that provided equivalent sodium loads at similar rates, had similar effects on mortality, hemodynamic parameters, and hemorrhage from the injury site. Key words: uncontrolled hemorrhage; shock; resuscitation; hypertonic saline; hemorrhage models; pig. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2000; 7:847-856 S TANDARD management of acute life-threatening hemorrhagic hypotension includes attempts to restore blood pressure (BP) to normal or near-normal levels through rapid administration of large volumes of isotonic crystalloid. 1 An alternative resuscitation agent that has shown considerable promise is 7.5% sodium chloride (HTS), used alone or in combination with 6% dextran 70 (HSD). Several animal studies of acute hemorrhagic hypotension have demonstrated that smallvolume infusions of HTS and HSD are more effec- tive in increasing BP, increasing cardiac output, and providing volume expansion as compared with conventional isotonic crystalloids. 2-10 Based on these studies, several authors have advocated the out-of-hospital administration of hypertonic crystalloids for acute hemorrhagic shock. However, not all of the hypertonic saline studies have demonstrated improvement in outcome from resuscitation of acute hemorrhage. More recent studies demonstrate that hypertonic saline resuscitation increases hemorrhage volume and mortality, presumably the result of a rapid rise in BP. [11][12][13][14][15] The authors of the latter studies therefore caution ...