[Efficacy of plasma substitutes of different molecular weight in acute haemorrhagic shock in dogs (author's transl)].

Dogs were bled into haemorrhagic shock. They were then given isovolaemic infusions of dextran 60 and 40 and of hydroxyethyl starch with an average molecular weight of 200,000 and 40,000 respectively with a view of assessing the haemodynamic efficacy of these plasma substitutes. Solutions of high molecular weight hydroxyethyl starch (HES 400) were retained in the circulation for about the same length of time as was dextran 60. HES 40 (molecular weight 40,000) was retained for about 3-4 hours as measured by cardiac output. For normalizing a relative hypovolaemia, e.g. during anaesthesia or in some emergencies, colloidal plasma substitutes which will be retained for only a short time are entirely satisfactory.