Time to Stop Using Synthetic Starches for Resuscitation

Mortality and renal-replacement therapy are more common after hydroxyethyl starch than after crystalloid resuscitation.

In two recently published randomized studies, researchers examined use of newer, low-molecular-weight (130 kilodalton [kDa]) hydroxyethyl starch (HES) preparations for resuscitating critically ill patients. One trial demonstrated that intensive care unit (ICU) mortality was significantly more likely when HES was used to resuscitate patients with sepsis (JW Hosp Med Jul 30 2012). In another study, HES recipients were more likely than crystalloid recipients to require renal-replacement therapy (RRT); no difference in ICU mortality was found (JW Gen Med Nov 13 2012). Adding to the growing body of literature that questions HES are two new meta-analyses.

One meta-analysis included 38 studies and 11,000 patients who received HES for resuscitation …

Reviewing Author

Patricia Kritek, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsATS Scholar

Patricia Kritek, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsATS Scholar