Blood volume replacement in acute anaphylactic cardiovascular collapse related to anaesthesia.

In seven patients who suffered anaphylactic cardiovascular collapse during anaesthesia the degree of haemoconcentration was used to assess changes in blood volume. The patients who were resuscitated with electrolyte solutions, or electrolyte solutions with a small volume of colloid, showed haemoconcentration suggesting plasma loss of 20.2-37%. Patients who were resuscitated initially with colloid solutions showed minimal haemoconcentration. In anaphylactic cardiovascular collapse, the reduction of blood volume is a result of loss of plasma and colloid solutions should be used to replace the volume deficit.