The effects of hydroxyethyl starch solutions on thromboelastography in preoperative male patients

BACKGROUND: Hydroxyethyl starches (HES) have been shown to decrease clot strength and to increase coagulation times assessed by thromboelastography (TEG). HES with minimal anticoagulant side-effects is beneficial for plasma volume expansion in the perioperative setting. A comparison of the in vivo effects of high, middle and low molecular weight HES solutions on TEG variables has not been performed so far. METHODS: Blood was obtained before and after intravenous infusion (10 ml kg-1) of either saline, HES 70/0.5/4 (molecular weight in kDa/degree of substitution/C2:C6 ratio), HES 130/0.4/9, HES 200/0.6/9.4, or HES 450/0.7/4.6 in 50 otherwise healthy patients. Thromboelastography was performed in 360 micro l of 1% celite activated citrated whole blood after recalcification. RESULTS: HES 450/0.7/4.6 prolonged reaction time indicating impairment of the plasmatic coagulation system. TEG parameters indicative for platelet function, including angle alpha, maximum amplitude and coagulation time, deteriorated after infusion of HES 450/0.7/4.6 and HES 70/0.5/4. HES 200/0.6/9.4 and HES 130/0.4/9 impaired platelet contribution to hemostasis only partially, decreasing two or one TEG platelet parameters, respectively. CONCLUSION: Infusion of HES 450/0.7/4.6 compromises TEG parameters more than the other solutions tested, whereas HES 130/0.4/9 has the smallest effect. Further outcome-related studies are needed in order to assess the clinical relevance of our findings.