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