Prehospital fluid resuscitation for trauma: Current status

This chapter discusses the controversial aspects of fluid administration in prehospital resuscitation of traumatic injuries; do fluids worsen blood loss and should they be minimized, or do fluids maintain circulatory perfusion and organ function while awaiting definitive care? Fluid composition is also discussed citing a growing literature condemning colloids and reviewing the use of hypertonic saline. Finally, parameter end point indexing adequacy of fluid resuscitation is addressed.