Concerns over use of hydroxyethyl starch solutions

Concerns over use of hydroxyethyl starch solutions

Hydroxyethyl starch solutions and patient harm.

On Jan 26, 2018, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) suspended the marketing authorisations of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions across the European Union.1 These intravenous solutions are often used for plasma volume replacement following acute blood loss. Evidence from highquality, investigator-initiated clinical trials in kidney donors, patients with sepsis, and in critically ill patients ...

Should hydroxyethyl starch solutions be totally banned?

The choice of which intravenous solution to prescribe remains a matter of considerable debate in intensive care units around the world. Trends have been moving away from using hydroxyethyl starch solutions following concerns about safety. But are the available data sufficient to clearly assess the risk-benefit balance for all patients, and is there enough evidence of harm to justify removing th...

Assessment report for solutions for infusion containing hydroxyethyl starch

Use of hydroxyethyl starch in critically ill patients

We read with interest the article by Meybohm and colleagues regarding the use of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) in critically ill patients [1]. Although we may agree with their conclusion that the most important question is whether or not HES may be harmful, we cannot agree with their suggestion on further clinical use based only on strict indication for HES or a safety checklist. In recent major ra...