Use of hypertonic saline in the treatment of cerebral edema in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

Cerebral edema is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in children and adolescents with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). We report a case of an adolescent female with life-threatening DKA-related cerebral edema who responded to a combination of mannitol and hypertonic saline. This is the first report of the use of hypertonic saline in the treatment of cerebral edema due to DKA.