Prime Solutions for Extracorporeal Circulation

The Next Generation of Colloids: Ready for “Prime Time”?

“…12 Currently, there is nearly universal acceptance regarding the use of a balanced electrolyte solution to prime the extracorporeal circuit (e.g., LR, Normosol [Hospira Worldwide], or Plasmalyte [Baxter, Deerfield, IL]). 4,5,13 The use of colloids as a component of the CPB prime, however, is less standardized in current clinical practice. One systematic review of this topic concluded that "albumin appears to be, in general, the safest colloid of the four we reviewed [albumin, hydroxyethyl starch products, dextran, and gelatin]."…”