The SSAI fully supports the suspension of hydroxyethyl-starch solutions commissioned by the European Medicines Agency

Perioperative colloids: From theory to practice

INTRODUCTION

Fluid administration is the cornerstone in hypovolemic patient's reanimation. Clinical guidelines restrict colloid administration favouring crystalloids. Currently, we don't know exactly which is the daily clinical practice during the perioperative period. The objective of this study is to describe perioperative use of colloids analysing possible reasons aiming to use them.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Prospective, cross-section, national, multicentre observational study. Fluid Day sub-study. We enrolled all patient's older than 18 years old who underwent surgery during the 24 h of the 2-days study (February, 2019, 18th and 20th). We registered demographic data, comorbidities, anaesthetic and surgical procedure data, fluids administered, perioperative bleeding and monitoring type used during the perioperative period.

RESULTS

A total of 5928 cases were analysed and 542 patients (9.1%) received any type of colloids, being hydroxiethyl-starch the most frequently used (5.1%). Patients receiving colloids suffered more longing surgery (150 [90-255] vs. 75 [45-120] min), were urgently operated (13.7 vs. 7.5%) and were more frequent classified as high risk (22 vs. 4.8%). Their recovery was mostly in critical care units (45.1 vs.15.8%). Patients with bleeding less than 500 ml received colloids in a percentage of 5.9 versus 45.9% when this figure was overcome. Patients who received colloids were anaemic more frequently: 29.4 vs. 16.3%. Colloids administration had a higher risk for transfusion (OR 15.7). Advanced monitoring also increased the risk for receiving colloids (OR 9.43).

CONCLUSIONS

In our environment with routine clinical practice, colloids administration is limited and close linked to perioperative bleeding.

Fraud and retraction in perioperative medicine publications: what we learned and what can be implemented to prevent future recurrence

Fraud in medical publications is an increasing concern. In particular, disciplines related to perioperative medicine-including anaesthesia and critical care-currently hold the highest rankings in terms of retracted papers for research misconduct. The dominance of this dubious achievement is attributable to a limited number of researchers who have repeatedly committed scientific fraud. In the last three decades, six researchers have authored 421 of the 475 papers retracted in perioperative medicine. This narrative review reports on six cases of fabricated publication in perioperative medicine that resulted in the paper's retraction. The process that led to the unveiling of the fraud, the impact on clinical practice, and changes in regulatory mechanisms of scientific companies and governmental agencies' policies are also presented. Fraud in medical publications is a growing concern that affects perioperative medicine requiring a substantial number of papers to be retracted. The continuous control elicited by readers, by local institutional review boards, scientific journal reviewers, scientific societies and government agencies can play an important role in preserving the 'pact of trust' between authors, professionals and ultimately the relationship between doctors and patients.

Effect of fluid resuscitation on cerebral integrity: A prospective randomised porcine study of haemorrhagic shock

BACKGROUND

The treatment of haemorrhagic shock is a challenging task. Colloids have been regarded as standard treatment, but their safety and benefit have been the subject of controversial debates. Negative effects, including renal failure and increased mortality, have resulted in restrictions on their administration. The cerebral effects of different infusion regimens are largely unknown.

OBJECTIVES

The current study investigated the impact of gelatine-polysuccinate, hydroxyethyl starch (HES) and balanced electrolyte solution (BES) on cerebral integrity, focusing on cerebral inflammation, apoptosis and blood flow in pigs.

DESIGN

Randomised experimental study.

SETTING

University-affiliated large animal research unit.

ANIMALS

Twenty-four juvenile pigs aged 8 to 12 weeks.

INTERVENTION

Haemorrhagic shock was induced by controlled arterial blood withdrawal to achieve a combination of relevant blood loss (30 to 40 ml kg-1) and haemodynamic deterioration. After 30 min of shock, fluid resuscitation was started with either gelatine-polysuccinate, HES or BES. The animals were then monitored for 4 h.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Cerebral perfusion and diffusion were measured via arterial-spin-labelling MRI. Peripheral tissue perfusion was evaluated via white light spectroscopy. Cortical and hippocampal samples were collected at the end of the experiment. The numbers of cerebral cell nuclei were counted and mRNA expression of markers for cerebral apoptosis [glucose transporter protein type 1 (SLC2A), lipocalin 2 (LCN-2), aquaporin-4 (AQP4)] and inflammation [IL-6, TNF-α, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)] were determined.

RESULTS

The three fluid protocols all stabilised the macrocirculation. Fluid resuscitation significantly increased the cerebral perfusion. Gelatine-polysuccinate and HES initially led to a higher cardiac output but caused haemodilution. Cerebral cell counts (as cells μm-2) were lower after colloid administration in the cortex (gelatine-polysuccinate, 1.8 ± 0.3; HES, 1.9 ± 0.4; each P < 0.05 vs. BES, 2.3 ± 0.2) and the hippocampus (gelatine-polysuccinate, 0.8 ± 0.2; HES, 0.9 ± 0.2; each P < 0.05 vs. BES, 1.1 ± 0.1). After gelatine-polysuccinate, the hippocampal SLC2A and GFAP were lower. After gelatine-polysuccinate, the cortical LCN-2 and TNF-α expression levels were increased (each P < 0.05 vs. BES).

CONCLUSION

In a porcine model, fluid resuscitation by colloids, particularly gelatine-polysuccinate, was associated with the occurrence of cerebral injury.

ETHICAL APPROVAL NUMBER

23 177-07/G 15-1-092; 01/2016.

Starch Wars-New Episodes of the Saga. Changes in Regulations on Hydroxyethyl Starch in the European Union

After a safety review of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions in 2013, restrictions on the use of HES were introduced in the European Union (EU) to reduce the risk of kidney injury and death in certain patient populations. Similar restrictions were introduced by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States and other countries. In October 2017, a second safety review of HES solutions was triggered by the European pharmacovigilance authorities based on a request by the Swedish Medical Products Agency to completely suspend HES. After several meetings and repeated evaluations, the recommendation to ban HES was ultimately not endorsed by the responsible committee; however, there was a vote for more restricted access to the drug and rigorous monitoring of policy adherence. This review delineates developments in the European pharmacovigilance risk assessment of HES solutions between 2013 and 2018. In addition, the divergent experts' opinions and the controversy surrounding this official assessment are described. As the new decisions might influence the availability of HES products for veterinary patients, potential alternatives to HES solutions, such as albumin solutions and gelatin, are briefly discussed.