Safety and efficacy of peri-operative administration of hydroxyethyl starch in children undergoing surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions have shown their efficiency for intravascular volume expansion. However, a safety recommendation limiting their use in adult patients has recently been made. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy and adverse effects of HES when administered intra-operatively to paediatric patients. METHODS A search was performed for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published before December 2016 involving paediatric patients who received 6% low molecular weight HES. Reviewers extracted valid data, including peri-operative total fluid intakes, mortality, renal function, coagulation tests, blood loss and length of hospital and ICU stay. All data were analysed using classical mean differences [and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs)] and trial sequential analysis. A Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) classification was performed for all outcomes. RESULTS Nine RCTs involving 530 peri-operative paediatric patients were analysed. Compared with other fluids, HES did not significantly modify the amount of peri-operative fluid administered [mean difference 0.04; 95% CI (−1.76 to 1.84) ml kg−1], urine output [mean difference −33; 95% CI (−104 to 38) ml kg−1] or blood loss [mean difference −0.09; (−0.32 to 0.15) ml kg−1]. Trial sequential analysis determined that the outcomes for peri-operative fluid and urine output were underpowered. Finally, all results were graded as very low quality of evidence. CONCLUSION Intravascular volume expansion with low molecular weight 6% HES did not appear to modify renal function, blood loss or transfusion when administered to children during the peri-operative period. However, given the lack of statistical power and the very low GRADE quality of evidence, more high-quality RCTs are needed to explore these outcomes. Correspondence to Prof. Gilles Orliaguet, MD, PhD, Service d'Anesthésie Réanimation, Hôpital Universitaire Necker-Enfants Malades, 149 rue de Sèvres, Paris 75743, France Tel: +33 144494458; fax: +33 144494170; e-mail: gilles.orliaguet@aphp.fr Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and PDF versions of this article on the journal's Website (http://ift.tt/2ylyqmW). © 2018 European Society of Anaesthesiology

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