Abstract
The effect of various plasma expanders on blood coagulation was studied using the thromboelastography (TEG). Solutions of 5, 10, 20, and 50% concentration of each expander (6% low molecular weight hydroxyethyl starch (6% Hespander®)*2, 3% dextran-40, 6% high molecular‘ weight hydroxyethyl starch (6 HES®)*3, and 6% dextran-70) or solvent (lactated Ringer solution and normal saline))) in blood were prepared and their coagulability was examined by TEG.
In the low molecular weight plasma expanders (6% Hespander⑮ and 3% dextran 40), in general, the coagulability decreased when the concentration was increased. In the high molecular weight plasma expanders (6 HES® and 6% dextran-70), the coagulability increased slightly at low and high concentrations and the coagulability was reduced. As a conclusion, at clinically used concentrations of less than 20% in blood, changes in the TEG of the plasma expanders are minimum and have no clinical significance.
