Isovolaemic hemodilution with gelatin and hydroxyethylstarch 130/0.42: effects on hemostasis in piglets

Lars Witt1, Wilhelm Alexander Osthaus, Wiebke Jahn

  • 1Clinic of Anaesthesiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. witt.lars-henrik@mh-hannover.de

Paediatric Anaesthesia
|January 21, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Artificial colloids like 4% gelatin (GEL) and hydroxyethyl starch (HES) can impair blood clot formation in children. Profound hemodilution with these colloids significantly impacts clot quality compared to isotonic crystalloid solution (ICS).

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology and Critical Care
  • Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research
  • Pharmacology of Fluid Resuscitation

Background:

  • Artificial colloids are widely used for hemorrhagic shock management in pediatric patients.
  • These fluid resuscitation agents have been shown to interfere with normal blood coagulation processes.
  • Understanding the specific impact of different colloid types on pediatric clot formation is crucial for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of isovolemic hemodilution with artificial colloids (4% gelatin and hydroxyethyl starch) versus isotonic crystalloid solution on clot formation in a pediatric animal model.
  • To compare the impact of moderate and profound hemodilution on hemostatic function.

Main Methods:

  • Fifteen piglets underwent controlled hemorrhage (40 ml·kg⁻¹).
  • Blood loss was replaced with either 4% gelatin (GEL), hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.42 (HES), or isotonic crystalloid solution (ICS) via isovolemic hemodilution.
  • Clot formation and platelet function were assessed using Thrombelastometry (ROTEM®) and Multiple Electrode Impedance Aggometry (Multiplate®) at different stages of hemodilution.

Main Results:

  • Moderate hemodilution (10-20 ml·kg⁻¹ replacement) showed no significant differences in clot formation among the ICS, GEL, and HES groups.
  • Profound hemodilution (40 ml·kg⁻¹ replacement) revealed significant impairment of clot formation with both GEL and HES compared to ICS (P < 0.05).
  • No significant difference in clot impairment was observed between GEL and HES during profound hemodilution.

Conclusions:

  • Moderate isovolemic hemodilution with ICS, GEL, or HES does not differentially impair clot formation in this pediatric model.
  • Profound hemodilution (over 50% estimated blood volume) using GEL or HES significantly impairs clot formation compared to ICS.
  • Clinicians should consider the potential for impaired hemostasis when administering high volumes of synthetic colloids in pediatric patients experiencing hemorrhagic shock.
Abstract

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