[Volume therapy in hypotensive trauma patients].

In trauma patients it is mandatory to establish the exact reason for their hypotension. If hypovolaemia is most probably responsible for the hypotension, fluid resuscitation should be initiated. The therapy of choice is infusion of sugarless, isotonic crystalloids with a physiologic serum electrolyte composition. In patients with brain injuries a decrease in serum osmolality is not advisable and hypertonic fluids may therefore be considered. Human albumin preparations are no longer indicated, but synthetic colloids may be an adjunct to a pure crystalloid regime. Hydroxyethyl starch preparations with a molecular weight in the mean range are reasonable choices considering the individual advantages and disadvantages of the various colloids. Larger blood losses must be treated with blood components such as packed red cells, fresh frozen plasma and thrombocyte concentrates as indicated. There are no widely accepted values for laboratory or monitoring parameters in starting or stopping a given fluid therapy; these values are unquestionably influenced, among other things, by the patient history and the pattern of the injuries. Initial resuscitation (when to start, who should administer the fluid and how much) also remains a focus of heated controversy.