METHOD: A total of 60 patients who were undergoing gastrointestinal surgery were randomized into a restrictive lactated Ringer’s group (n = 20), a goal-directed lactated Ringer’s group (n = 20) and a goal-directed hydroxyethyl starch group (n = 20). The goal-directed fluid treatment was guided by pulse pressure variation, which was recorded during surgery using a simple manual method with a Dat...

Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 (Voluven, Fresenius/Hospira, Germany) is indicated for the treatment and prophylaxis of hypovolemia. As the Voluven molecule is smaller than those of other available hydroxyethyl starch products, it is associated with less plasma accumulation and can be safely used in patients with renal impairment. Previous studies have demonstrated that Voluven has comparable...

The need for sophisticated component therapy has resulted in improved techniques for obtaining concentrates of platelets and granulocytes. The use of single donors as a source for these products is advisable to avoid multiple sensitizations. A method for obtaining large quantities of platelets has been established rather easily. Obtaining concentrated granulocytes represents a greater problem o...

Editor—Delayed graft function (DGF) after transplan-tation of cadaver kidneys is associated with poorer subsequent graft survival. 1 Fluid management during the donor operation can significantly modify the risk of DGF. Thus, in a blinded randomized trial of 69 kidney transplants from brain-dead donors, 2 volume loading with a mean of 2100 ml hydroxyethyl starch (HES) increased the incidence of ...

FLUIDS ARE A CORE ELEMENT IN the resuscitation of critically ill patients and the relative superiority and safety of different resuscitation solutions has been the focus of considerable debate. Crystalloid solutions are inexpensive and readily available, while colloid solutions may minimize resuscitation volumes, and may sustain intravascular volume for longer durations. Conflicting results fro...