European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Vol 11, 626-632, Copyright © 1997 by European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
Hemostatic effects of three colloid plasma substitutes for priming solution in cardiopulmonary bypass
I Tigchelaar, RC Gallandat Huet, J Korsten, PW Boonstra and W van Oeveren
University Hospital Groningen, Netherlands.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects on hemostasis of three different plasma
substitutes with special reference to a newly developed hydroxyethyl starch
used as priming solution in an extracorporeal circuit as well as peri- and
postoperative infusion fluid, we studied 36 patients randomly assigned to
one of three groups, undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS:
The compositions of the priming solutions were: 2.5% hydroxyethyl starch;
3% gelatin; and 4% human albumin. Platelet function tests and clotting
assays were performed on blood samples collected during and after
cardiopulmonary bypass. RESULTS: We found that plasma von Willebrand Factor
remained higher in the human albumin group. Hydroxyethyl starch preserved
platelet agglutination as well as human albumin, whereas platelet
aggregation induced by adenosine 5'-di phosphate (ADP) proved to be
similarly affected during cardiopulmonary bypass in the three study groups.
Prolongation of the in vitro bleeding constant during the bypass period and
subsequent partial recovery showed an affected platelet function in all
groups during cardiopulmonary bypass. The clotting times, activated partial
thromboplastin time and prothrombin time were similar in the three groups.
Blood loss, peri- and postoperatively, showed also no differences.
Hydroxyethyl starch appeared most cost-effective as priming solution in an
extracorporeal circuit. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that, with human albumin
the golden standard, 2.5% hydroxyethyl starch is a suitable colloid plasma
substitute to be used as priming solution in an extracorporeal circuit as
well as peri- and postoperative infusion fluid, reasonably well maintaining
hemostasis.