The Effect of Intraoperative 6% Balanced Hydroxyethyl Starch (130/0.4) During Cardiac Surgery on Transfusion Requirements

Objectives: To compare transfusion requirements in adult cardiac surgery patients when balanced hydroxyethyl starches (HES) (130/0.4) or balanced crystalloids is used for pump prime and intraoperative fluid therapy. Design: Data were obtained retrospectively from medical records and perfusion charts. Matching based on propensity scores was used to adjust for potential confounders. Setting: A university hospital. Participants: Adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Interventions: Allocation to one of the study groups according to whether balanced HES or balanced crystalloids was used for pump prime and intraoperative fluid therapy. Measurements and Main Results: 240 propensity-matched patients were retained for final analyses. Forty-eight patients (40%) of the colloid group and 28 patients (23.3%) of the crystalloid group received blood products, with an odd ratio (95% Cl) of 2.1(1.2-3.8 (P = 0.009). After bypass HES patients had lower hemoglobin levels (8.4 [1.3] gr/dL vs 9.6 [2] gr/dL; P < 0.001) and a higher cumulative chest drain output after 3 hours (180 [210] mL vs 140 [100] mL, P < 0.001]. Heparinase thromboelastogram (TEG) showed longer K times (2.5[1.1] vs 1.6[0.8], P < 0.001) and lower maximal amplitudes (55.1[12.5] vs 63.4[9.8], P 0.008). Conclusions: HES patients required more transfusions, owing to greater hemodilution, HES-induced clotting disturbances, and bleeding. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.