Saving Trauma Patients

In this medical video learn about a national study, which is testing an experimental treatment to see if it can help improve survival rates for trauma patients.

Chris Stanley: There is my two. Very good. Jennifer Matthews: He's back to teaching this model-making class. Chris Stanley: Mostly, I'm able to do when I'm able what I've always been able to do. Jennifer Matthews: But Chris Stanley knows it's a miracle after a terrible accident two years ago. Chris Stanley: I slid up on the hood of the car, hit the windshield, and pushed that in. Jennifer Matthews: Chris was riding his bike on a busy road when he was hit by a car. Chris Stanley: My helmet was destroyed. Jennifer Matthews: He flew 85 feet and landed without it. His severe head injury allowed Chris to qualify for a new study. Paramedics usually give trauma patients an IV filled with salt to replace lost blood. The level of salt is about the same as what's in the bloodstream. In the new study, patients got a more concentrated dose of saline or a placebo. Dr. Eileen Bulger: In a patient who has lost a lot of blood, you can rapidly restore their blood pressure by giving this concentrated salt that then draws extra fluid out of their tissues into their bloodstream. Jennifer Matthews: Early results show the high doses of salt called hypertonic saline, also improve blood flow to the brain, reduce brain swelling and can decrease the risk of infection. Dr. Eileen Bulger: Our goal is for the people who have lost a lot of blood to see if we can actually improve survival. Jennifer Matthews: Chris doesn't know yet if he got the hypertonic saline or the placebo. Chris Stanley: Just being able to speak, being able to walk, being able to think coherently are miracles. Jennifer Matthews: He is just thankful for his amazing recovery. This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.