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Review
. 2014 Oct;30(4):472-80.
doi: 10.4103/0970-9185.142801.

Hydroxyeyhyl starch: Controversies revisited

Rashmi Datta  1 , Rajeev Nair  1 , Anil Pandey  1 , Nitish Gupta  1 , Tapan Sahoo  1
Affiliations
Review

Hydroxyeyhyl starch: Controversies revisited

Rashmi Datta et al. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2014 Oct.

Erratum in

Abstract

Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) family has been one of the cornerstones in fluid management for over four decades. Recent evidence from clinical studies and meta-analyses has raised few concerns about the safety of these fluids, especially in certain subpopulations of patients. High-quality clinical trials and meta-analyses have emphasized nephrotoxic effects, increased risk of bleeding, and a trend toward higher mortality in these patients after the use of HES solutions. Scientific evidence was derived from international guidelines, aggregated research literature, and opinion-based evidence was obtained from surveys and other activities (e.g., internet postings). On critical analysis of the current data available, it can be summarized that further large scale trials are still indicated before HES can be discarded.

Keywords: Controversies; colloids; hydroxyethyl starch.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hydroxyethyl starch molecule
Figure 2
Figure 2
Carbon positions in hydroxyethyl starch molecule
Figure 3
Figure 3
Generations of hydroxyethyl starch
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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