Randomized study comparing the effects of hydroxyethyl starch solution with Gelofusine on pulmonary function in patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery

Background. Restoring blood flow to ischaemic tissue can cause lung damage with pulmonary oedema. Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solution, when used for volume replacement, may modify and reduce the degree of ischaemia-reperfusion injury. We compared the effects of HES solution with those of Gelofusine solution on pulmonary function, microvascular permeability and neutrophil activation in patients undergoing elective infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery. Methods. Forty patients were randomized into two groups. The anaesthetic technique was standardized. Lung function was assessed with the Po-2/FIO2 ratio, respiratory compliance, chest x-ray and a score for lung injury. Microvascular permeability was determined by measuring microalbuminuria. Neutrophil activation was determined by measurement of plasma elastase. Results. Four hours after surgery, the median (quartile values) Po-2/FIO2 ratio was 40.3 (37.8, 53.1) kPa for the HES-treated patients compared with 33.9 (31.2, 40.9) kPa for the Gelofusine-treated patients (P<0.01, Mann-Whitney test). The respiratory compliance was 80 (73.5, 80) ml cm(-1) H2O in the HES-treated patients compared with 60.1 (50.8, 73.3) ml cm(-1) H2O in the Gelofusine-treated patients (P<0.01, Mann-Whitney test). The lung injury score 4 h after surgery was less for the patients treated with HES compared with the patients treated with Gelofusine (0.33 vs 0.71, P=0.01, Wilcoxon rank sum test). Mean (sd) plasma elastase was less in the HES-treated patients on the first postoperative day (1.96 (0.17) vs 2.08 (0.24), P<0.05). The log mean microalbuminuria was less in the HES-treated patients (0.41 vs 0.91 mg mmol(-1), P<0.05). This difference in microvascular permeability was associated with different volumes of colloid required to maintain stable cardiovascular measurements in the two groups of patients studied (3000 vs 3500 ml, P<0.01, Mann-Whitney test). Conclusion. Compared with Gelofusine, the perioperative pulmonary function of patients treated with HES after abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery was better.