In addition to albumin, multiple trials of synthetic colloids have also been conducted,including a variety of hydroxyethyl starch formulations. Synthetic colloids are appealing as a resuscitation fluid because they can be manufactured cheaply, avoid risks of blood borne pathogens, and theoretically increase circulating blood volume to a greater extent than crystalloids. However, significant evidence shows that their use may be associated with coagulopathy and an increased risk of acute kidney injury.Animal studies demonstrate significantly increased bleeding and clinical coagulopathy
with hydroxyethyl starch compared with albumin and blood products. Even more concerning is that the coagulopathy in these animals manifested as increased bleeding and hemorrhagic death but was not associated with derangements in traditional laboratory measures of clotting, such as prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin
time (aPTT).30–32 Meta-analysis of both in vitro and in vivo studies involving several hydroxyethyl starch formulations confirmed these results, finding significant hypocoagulatory effects of hydroxyethyl starch as measured by thromboelastography(TEG) or rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM).33 Multiple meta-analyses have confirmed the association between acute kidney injury and hydroxyethyl starch administration with odds ratios for acute kidney injury ranging from This association seems particularly strong when hydroxyethyl starch is used in resuscitating patients with sepsis and septic shock