EFFECTS OF DEXTRAN AND CRYSTALLOIDS ON SUBCUTANEOUS OXYGEN-TENSION AND COLLAGEN ACCUMULATION - A RANDOMIZED STUDY IN SURGICAL PATIENTS

Twenty-nine patients, subjected to major abdominal surgery, were rando mized to different types of postoperative fluid replacement, given on the basis of subcutaneous oxygen tension measurements (PScO2). One reg imen consisted of crystalloids, the other of a combination of crystall oids and colloids (dextran 70). Perioperative fluid replacement was gi ven according to clinical criteria and postoperatively according to po larographic PSCO2 measurements. PSCO2 Was measured by a silicone cathe ter implanted in the upper arm. Two tubes of expanded polytetrafluoroe thylene (ePTFE) were implanted next to the silicon catheter. They were removed on day 5 and 7, and analysed for hydroxyproline content. Tota l postoperative fluid support was equal in the two groups, and so was the hydroxyproline content on day 7. In conclusion, postoperative flui d substitution with dextran has no advantages over crystalloids only, with regard to granulation tissue formation if postoperative fluid sup port is optimum, according to PSCO2 measurements.