Dehydration treatment for increased intracranial pressure in brain cancer

Increased intracranial pressure is an important pathological and physiological link in the clinical symptoms of brain cancer and affects the patient's life. Reducing intracranial pressure is the top priority in the treatment of brain cancer. At present, the main methods commonly used in clinical practice to reduce intracranial pressure include dehydration therapy, cerebrospinal fluid drainage, and comprehensive treatment measures to prevent increased intracranial pressure, such as low temperature hibernation, hormone use, water and sodium intake restriction, and reasonable body position.

The main treatment for dehydration is to use hyperosmotic diuretics to promote the excretion of water from the body, concentrate the blood, and increase the ability to absorb water from the interstitial space to achieve the purpose of reducing intracranial pressure. The principle of using diuretics is to take the medicine orally first. If oral administration is difficult or the effect is not good, then administer it by intravenous or intramuscular injection. Commonly used oral drugs include hydrochlorothiazide (hydrochlorothiazide), acetazolamide, triamterene, furosemide, 50% glycerol saline solution, etc.; commonly used preparations for injection include 20% mannitol, 20% urea invert sugar or urea sorbitol solution, furosemide, etc. The duration of action of diuretics is generally 4 to 6 hours. During medication, blood routine should be monitored to prevent water and electrolyte imbalance.

For brain cancer patients with severe increased intracranial pressure, in order to better reduce intracranial pressure and alleviate cerebral edema, patients can also be given intravenous injection of 100-200 ml of 2-fold concentrated plasma or intravenous injection of 20% human serum albumin 20-40 ml.