Fluid Resuscitation in the ER (HELP)

[tigerthao]

Why is the addition of dextran or albumin to isotonic saline thought to improve fluid resuscitation? Do isotonic saline and isotonic saline plus dextran have the same effect on capillary forces?

[Guest374845]

From an osmolar standpoint, hypertonics and colloids don't stray intracellularly like isotonic/hypotonic crystalloids, so it's been proposed that they are superior volume expanders. But data over time hasn't borne that out. For instance, colloids have no mortality benefit in sepsis compared to 30ml/kg of crystalloid. And a trauma pt in need of resus gets blood products instead of empty expansion products.