intrathecal saline

Intrathecal saline refers to the administration of sterile 0.9% sodium chloride solution directly into the subarachnoid space. It is extensively utilized in clinical research as a placebo or active control for evaluating intrathecal analgesics such as morphine, ketorolac, and local anesthetics. Beyond its role as a control, intrathecal saline serves critical therapeutic functions in neurosurgery and neurology, particularly for managing conditions characterized by low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure or volume. It is used to treat spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), post-dural puncture headache (PDPH), and paradoxical herniation by restoring CSF volume and augmenting intracranial pressure. Additionally, it is employed diagnostically during pressure-augmented dynamic CT myelography to facilitate the identification of CSF leaks and venous fistulas.

Other names

intrathecal normal salineintrathecal 0.9% sodium chlorideintrathecal NaCl