Hypertonic Saline For The Whipple

After patients undergo surgery, an intravenous drip is used to prevent the body from dehydrating and to keep the body in a healthy equilibrium. It regulates blood pressure and the amount of fluid going into the body. In hypertonic saline, the extra solute allows water to flow out of cells due to the difference in water potential and therefore helps reduce extreme fluid buildup and swelling in many parts of the body, such as the lungs. Swelling here could hinder the delivery of blood and oxygen to other parts of the body, and, consequently, could increase the time it takes to heal and cause difference complications. One particular study tested the effects of a more hypertonic saline for the Whipple operation for pancreatic cancer. Common complications
from this procedure include blood clotting, pneumonia, wound infection, and urinary tract infection. The experiment that the patients using hypertonic saline had 25% fewer overall complications. These findings could help patients recover quicker and with fewer problems [1].