The effect of Fluosol-DA on the reticuloendothelial system in surgical patients

The effect of Fluosol-DA (Perfluorochemicals), an oxygen carrying blood substitute, on the function of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) was investigated by means of Ferrichondroitin sulfate in a series of patients undergoing gastrectomy for cancer of the stomach. In 20 patients, 500 ml of blood were replaced with the same amount of either Fluosol-DA or hydroxyethylstarch (HES) prior to surgery. Changes of perioperative cellular immunity were studied by PHA-stimulated T-lymphocyte transformation. It was found that the RES functions were significantly depressed postoperatively and fairly recovered by the sixth postoperative day in the Fluosol-DA group. A prolongation of the suppression of cellular immunity with sustained fever was noted in this gastrectomized series. In analyzing the decay of infused Perfluolochemicals in blood, the half life of Fluorodecalin (FDC) was 4.9 +/- 0.1 hr, for Perfluorotripropylamine (FTPA) it was 5.1 +/- 0.1 hr. The prolonged depression of the RES function might be caused by saturation of RES with particles of Perfluorochemicals.