title: The impact of colloid infusion prior to spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section on the condition of a newborn--a comparison of balanced and unbalanced hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fluid therapy is the most commonly used treatment to prevent hypotension associated with spinal anaesthesia. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a balanced solution of 6% hydroxyethyl starch will have a more beneficial impact on the condition of newborns at birth than an unbalanced 6% solution of HES.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study participants included 51 healthy parturients undergoing elective caesarean section with spinal anaesthesia. Patients received a transfusion of 500 mL of unbalanced 6% HES (Voluven) or balanced 6% HES (Tetraspan) prior to anaesthesia. The condition of the newborn was assessed using the Apgar score, and the acid-base balances of venous and arterial umbilical cord blood were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of hypotension after spinal anaesthesia was 80% in Group A and 76.9% in Group B (P = 1.0). There were no differences between the two groups in the total doses of ephedrine and no differences between treatment groups in Apgar scores. Also, no differences in acid-base balance parameters (pH, H(+), pCO(2), pO(2), HCO(3)(-), BE) were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A balanced 6% solution of hydroxyethyl starch (HES 130/0.42) did not significantly influence the condition of the newborns at birth or the acid-base and electrolyte concentration of newborns compared to an unbalanced solution of 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES 130/0.4).
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland. amarcin@gumed.edu.pl
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marciniak
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wujtewicz
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Owczuk
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D001034:Apgar Score; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003102:Colloids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; C485123:HES 130-0.4; D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives