Pro/con clinical debate: Hydroxyethylstarches should be avoided in septic patients

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Frederique Schortgen, Hopital Bichat-Claude Bernard; Laurent Brochard, Hopital Henri Mondor; Ellen Burnham, Emory University; Greg Martin, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2003-02-19
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2003 BioMed Central Ltd
• Final Published Version (URL): http://ccforum.com/content/7/4/279
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Critical Care
• ISSN: 1364-8535
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 279
• End Page: 281
• Keywords: fluid resuscitation; sepsis; hydroxyethylstarches; intensive care unit
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, General

Abstract

There are few issues in critical care medicine that have a less clearly defined standard of care than the intravenous fluid choice for resuscitation. Natural colloids (such as albumin) became popular during the Second World War when there was a need to develop a portable, easily stored, blood substitute. Early successes led to widespread use and a multibillion dollar industry. It is not surprising given the large demand, high costs and potential adverse effects of natural colloids that synthetic colloids have emerged. In the present article, two groups of clinical investigators remind us of the controversies surrounding the use of synthetic colloids.