The influence of plasma volume expanders on initial haemostasis in the rabbit mesentery

An experimental study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of dose (1 and 2 g/kg b.w.) and molecular weight (40 000, 70 000, 110 000 and 500 000 daltons) of dextran on primary haemostatic plug formation in the rabbit mesenteric microcirculation. All experiments were made 3 h after the infusion of the different substances. Albumin and hydro-oxyethyl starch treatment was used for control plasma volume expansion and did not influence arteriolar and venular haemostasis as compared with saline. Dextran gave a prolonged haemostatic plug formation time with increasing dose and with increasing molecular weights. Clinically relevant doses of dextran 40 and 70 (1 g/kg b.w.) did not influence haemostatic plug formation time.