Bolus of Saline in Stroke

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Acute ischemic stroke in the territory of the anterior, middle, or posterior cerebral artery territory on either side of the brain
• Study intervention can be initiated within 96 hours of symptom onset
• Willingness and ability to sign informed consent by patient or legally acceptable surrogate decision-maker

Exclusion criteria

• Infarct limited to the brainstem and/or cerebellum with no involvement of the cerebral hemispheres
• Bi-hemispheric infarction or acute infarct in the contra-lateral hemisphere within the past 30 days
• Symptoms of active congestive heart failure (dyspnea, orthopnea, increased oxygen requirement)
• Exacerbation of congestive heart failure, requiring hospitalization, within the past 30 days or severe systolic dysfunction with a known ejection fraction <20%
• End stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis or a creatinine clearance <20 ml/min/1.73 m2
• Hemicraniectomy or other skull defect that would interfere with monitoring
• Pregnant women are excluded. Women of child-bearing age must have a negative pregnancy test prior to enrollment
• Participation in another clinical trial
• Any other illness or condition that the investigator feels would pose a hazard to the subject from participation in the study