Background: There are very few studies that have examined the effect of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions on blood glucose level. The study was aimed to compare the effects on blood glucose levels in patients undergoing lower limb surgeries under neuraxial block, receiving HES with those receiving 0.9% saline.
Patients and methods: 160 non-diabetic ASA I or II patients, aged between 18-65 years were selected for the trial. Patients were divided into two groups; Group C (n = 80, patients received only 0.9% saline for preloading and maintenance until six hours of the end of preloading) and Group T (n = 80, patients received Tetraspan™ 10 mL kg⁻¹, for preloading and 0.9% saline for maintenance until six hours from the end of preloading). Blood glucose was recorded prior to the start of preloading and repeated at two, four and six hours after the end of HES infusion or the preloading dose of 0.9% saline.
Results: The following blood glucose levels were comparable at all times; fasting/baseline (85.3 ± 19.2 mg dL⁻¹ in group C and 95.4 ± 17.3 mg dL⁻¹ in group T); increase in blood glucose concentration at 2 hours (6.44 ± 20.59 mg dL⁻¹ in group C and 10.8 ± 18.1 mg dL⁻¹ in group T); 4 hours (4.1 ± 12.1 mg dL⁻¹ in group C and 3.5 ± 11.8 mg dL⁻¹ in group T); and at 6 hours (2.9 ± 13.4 mg dL⁻¹ in group C and 3.5 ± 10.6 mg dL⁻¹ in group T).
Conclusion: A balanced HES solution administered intravenously did not cause an increase in blood glucose concentrations compared to those who received 0.9% saline.