Hypovolemic Shock

Question 1

Discuss crystalloids vs colloids for volume administration in resuscitation and non-resuscitation situations.

Answer 1

Crystalloids - small molecules, are cheap, easy to use, and provide immediate fluid resuscitation, but may increase edema.

Colloids - larger molecules, cost more, and may provide swifter volume expansion in the intravascular space, but may induce allergic reactions, blood clotting disorders, and kidney failure.

Using starches, dextrans, albumin or FFP (moderate-certainty evidence), or gelatins (low-certainty evidence), versus crystalloids probably makes little or no difference to mortality.

Starches probably slightly increase the need for blood transfusion and RRT (moderate-certainty
evidence), and albumin or FFP may make little or no difference to the need for renal replacement therapy (low-certainty evidence).