Fluid therapy in the acute brain injured patient.

Adequate fluid therapy in the acute brain injured (ABI) patient is essential for maintaining an adequate brain and systemic physiology and preventing intra- and extracranial complications. The target of euvolemia, implying avoidance of both hypovolemia and fluid overloading (or "hypervolemia," by definition associated with fluid extravasation leading to tissue edema) is of key importance. Primary brain injury can be aggravated by secondary brain injury and systemic deterioration through diverse pathways which can challenge appropriate fluid management, e.