Renal injury and death following hydroxyethyl starch administration in dogs

Hydroxyethyl starches (HESs) are artificial colloid fluid solutions administered intravenously to provide volume expansion and oncotic support. Clinical use is widespread in small animal veterinary medicine. The available information reports that HES is effective at increasing systolic blood pressure and oncotic pressure but also that HES use causes changes in coagulation function with decreased platelet function and reductions in coagulation factor VIII and von Willebrand factor activities. To date, no clinical studies on veterinary patients have investigated the adverse effects resulting from HES use or whether use of HES improves patient survival.
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research