Fluid therapy with hydroxyethyl starch for massive blood loss during surgery

This clinical trial reports the use of hydroxyethyl starch (HES70/0.55/4) at very high dosages during surgery. HES70/0.55/4 has the lowest molecular weight among all HES products, and thus may have the least side effects. This observational retrospective study clarified the effects of high-dose HES70/0.55/4 on coagulation and renal function up to 1 month after massive bleeding during surgery.

Of 20875 patients on our surgical database, 31 patients were identified who had lost more than 5000 ml of blood during surgery and had survived for more than 1 month. The fluid balance, and pre- and postoperative laboratory data were analyzed. Patients were assessed using acute kidney injury (AKI) criteria. AKI and non-AKI groups were compared regarding volume of HES70/0.55/4 infused and serum creatinine (Cr) levels before surgery and until 1 month after surgery.

The mean volumes of blood loss, total transfusions, HES70/0.55/4, and urine output during surgery were 8051 ml; 5765 ml; 3085 ml (54 ml/kg); and 1338 ml (2.7 ml/kg/h), respectively. Cr increased, and activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time and international normalized ratio were prolonged postoperatively (0.77–0.9 mg/dl, 34–52 s, and 1.1–1.7, respectively). Of the 31 patients, 13 developed AKI, and 10 of the 13 had recovered at 1 month. Renal impairment due to HES70/0.55/4 was not evident, as shown by the finding that the HES70/0.55/4 amount infused in the AKI patients (53 ml/kg) did not differ from that in the nonAKI patients (55 ml/kg), and there was no relationship between the amount of HES infused and Cr changes.

High-dose HES70/0.55/4 could be safely used in massive bleeding during surgery. HES70/0.55/4 may affect coagulation, but renal impairment was not evident 1 month after surgery.