An experimental study on the effect of plasma expanders on blood coagulability

The effect of various plasma expanders on blood coagulation was studied using the thromboelastography (TEG). Solutions of 5, 10, 20, and 50% concentration of each expander (6% low molecular weight hydroxyethyl-starch (6% Hespander), 3% dextran-40, 6% high molecular weight hydroxyethyl-starch (6 HES), and 6% dextran-70) or solvent (lactated Ringer solution and normal saline) in blood were prepared and their coagulability was examined by TEG. In the low molecular weight plasma expanders (6% Hespander and 3% dextran-40), in general, the coagulability decreased when the concentration was increased. In the high molecular weight plasma expanders (6 HES and 6% dextran-70), the coagulability increased slightly at low and high concentrations and the coagulability was reduced. As a conclusion, at clinically used concentrations of less than 20% in blood, changes in the TEG of the plasma expanders are minimum and have no clinical significance.