Acute Caremiddle twist
A 24-year-old man is brought in after his motorcycle struck a fence post. He opens his eyes to pain, makes incomprehensible sounds and localises with his right arm. Both pupils are 3 mm and react. Pulse is 118 beats per minute and blood pressure 92/54 mmHg; the abdomen is soft, the pelvis stable and the focused ultrasound negative. He is intubated. Computed tomography of the brain shows diffuse cerebral swelling with small contusions and no mass lesion. Two litres of fluid are prescribed over the next four hours. Which one of the following fluids should be used?