Glycerol and methylprednisolone in lung contusion.

An experimental model was developed in dogs that quantifies the amount of pulmonary trauma produced. The severity of thoracic trauma is related to mortality and to a presence or absence of bilateral pulmonary injury. Bilateral injury represents severe trauma, consistently alters blood gases and is associated with significant mortality when untreated. Both methylprednisolone and glycerol exerted beneficial effects on mortality from bilateral pulmonary contusion, and glycerol altered the blood gas pattern towards normal. Glycerol has been utilized extensively clinically to reverse the adverse effects of cerebral edema. It may prove to be of similar value when pulmonary injury is an important factor.