Place of Polygeline in Fluid Resuscitation: Focus on Hypovolemic Shock

Traumatic injury is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. Fluid resuscitation is an important component of treatment of haemorrhagic shock after trauma. In patients with major trauma, after the control of bleeding, the blood volume needs to be replenished. Blood and blood products, crystalloids and colloids are available options for increasing plasma volume. With the availability of several options, choice of fluid therapy in trauma patients creates a dilemma. The choice of intravenous fluid is based on its ability to increase intravascular volume, tissue perfusion and oxygenation and lesser risk of adverse effects. Blood and blood components are a precious commodity and need to be tested, typed and matched and often not readily available. Polygeline is an important option among other colloids which exerts clinically evident benefits, making it an appropriate choice for the management of hypovolemia due to trauma. For a better understanding of the current practices in trauma management, an expert group discussion was facilitated.