e-threatening reactions may still occur following initiation of an infusion of any clinical dextran (see adverse reactions ). because of the seriousness of anaphylactoid reactions, it is recommended that the infusion of intravenous dextran be stopped at the first sign of an allergic reaction provided that other means of sustaining the circulation are available. resuscitative measures should be readily available for emergency administration in the event such a reaction occurs. in circulatory collapse due to anaphylaxis, rapid volume substitutions with an agent other than dextran should be instituted. because lmd (dextran 40) is a hypertonic colloid solution, it attracts water from the extravascular space. this shift of fluid should be considered if the drug is used for poorly hydrated patients where additional fluid therapy will be needed. if lmd is given in excess, vascular overload could occur. the latter possibility can be avoided with careful clinical monitoring preferably by central venous pressure. renal excretion of lmd causes elevations of the specific gravity of the urine. in the presence of adequate urine flow only minor elevation will occur, whereas in patients with reduced urine output, urine viscosity and specific gravity can be increased markedly. since urine osmolarity is only slightly increased by the presence of dextran molecules, it is recommended that, when desired, a patient's state of hydration be assessed by determination of urine or serum osmolarity. if signs of dehydration are present, additional fluid should be administered. an osmotic diuretic such as mannitol also can be used to maintain an adequate urine flow. although numerous studies attest to the "nephrotonic" effect of lmd, renal failure has been reported to occur after the use of lmd. evidence of tubular vacuolization (osmotic nephrosis) has been found following lmd administration in animals and man. while this appears to be reversible experimentally in animals and to be a consequence of high urine concentration of the drug, its exact clinical significance is presently unknown. occasional abnormal renal and hepatic function values have been reported following administration of lmd. however, the specific effect of lmd on renal and hepatic function could not be determined because most of the patients also had undergone surgery or cardiac catheterization. a comparative study of dextran 40 and 5% dextrose in water as pump-priming fluids in open-heart surgery has shown similar elevations of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (sgot), aspartate aminotransferase and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (sgpt), alanine aminotransferase values in both groups. caution should be employed when lmd is administered to patients with active hemorrhage as the resulting increase in perfusion pressure and improved microcirculatory flow may result in additional blood loss. administering infusions of lmd that exceed the recommended dose should be avoided, since a dose-related increase in the incidence of wound hematoma, wound seroma, wound bleeding, distant bleeding (hematuria and melena) and pulmonary edema has been observed. recommended doses should never be exceeded in patients with advanced renal disease, since excessive doses may precipitate renal failure. dextran may interfere to some extent with platelet function and should be used with caution in cases with thrombocytopenia. transient prolongation of bleeding time and/or slightly increased bleeding tendency may occur with the administration of doses greater than 1,000 ml. care should be taken to prevent a depression of hematocrit below 30% by volume. when large volumes of dextran are administered, plasma protein levels will be decreased. solutions containing sodium ions should be used with great care, if at all, in patients with congestive heart failure, severe renal insufficiency and in clinical states in which there exists edema with sodium retention. the intravenous administration of this solution can cause fluid and/or solute overloading resulting in dilution of serum electrolyte concentrations, overhydration, congested states or pulmonary edema. the risk of dilutional states is inversely proportional to the electrolyte concentrations of administered parenteral solutions. the risk of solute overload causing congested states with peripheral and pulmonary edema is directly proportional to the electrolyte concentrations of such solutions. in patients with diminished renal function, administration of solutions containing sodium ions may result in sodium retention.

ld not exceed 2 g/kg of body weight. • in prophylaxis of venous thrombosis and thromboembolism, the dosage of lmd for adults and adolescents, should be chosen according to the risk of thromboembolic complications, e.g., type of surgery and duration of immobilization. in general, treatment should be initiated during surgery; 500 to 1,000 ml (approximately 10 ml/kg of body weight) should be administered on the day of operation. treatment should be continued at a dose of 500 ml daily for an additional two to three days; then, according to the risk of complications, 500 ml may be given every second or third day during the period of risk, for up to two weeks. • infants may be given 5 ml per kg body weight and children 10 ml per kg. parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. see precautions . note : when infusing concentrated lmd, the administration set should include a filter. instructions for use to open tear outer wrap at notch and remove solution container. some opacity of the plastic due to moisture absorption during the sterilization process may be observed. this is normal and does not affect solution quality or safety. the opacity will diminish gradually. preparation for administration (use aseptic technique) • close flow control clamp of administration set. • remove cover from outlet port at bottom of container. • insert piercing pin of administration set into port with a twisting motion until the set is firmly seated. note : see full directions on administration set carton. • suspend container from hanger. • squeeze and release drip chamber to establish proper fluid level in drip chamber. • open flow control clamp and clear air from set. close clamp. • attach set to venipuncture device. if device is not indwelling, prime and make venipuncture. • regulate rate of administration with flow control clamp. warning: do not use flexible container in series connections.

, extravasation and hypervolemia. if an adverse reaction does occur, discontinue the infusion, evaluate the patient, institute appropriate therapeutic countermeasures, and save the remainder of the fluid for examination if deemed necessary (see warnings for treatment of anaphylactic shock). post marketing severe reactions have been observed with dextran 40 and dextran 70. reported reactions include: generalized urticaria, nausea and vomiting, wheezing, hypotension, shock and cardiac arrest (dextran-induced anaphylactoid reactions, diar). fda has received 94 reports of severe diar since 1964. because these reactions are reported voluntarily and the treated population is of indeterminate size, the frequency of reactions cannot be estimated reliably.

dures, lmd, as compared to whole blood, albumin 5%, or whole blood plus 5% dextrose and water, leads to less destruction of red blood cells and platelets, reduces intravascular hemagglutination and maintains erythrocyte electronegativity. the infusion of lmd (dextran 40) during and after surgical trauma reduces the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (dvt) and pulmonary embolism (pe) in patients subject to surgical procedures with a high incidence of thromboembolic complication. unlike antithrombogenic agents of the anticoagulant type, lmd does not achieve its effect so much by blocking fibrinogen-fibrin conversion but acts by simultaneously inhibiting other mechanisms essential to thrombus formation such as vascular stasis and platelet adhesiveness and by altering the structure and thereby the lysability of fibrin clots. histopathological studies have shown that the development of a mural platelet thrombus is the first stage of thrombus formation not only in the arterial, but also in the venous system. a number of studies have further shown that many patients who develop thromboembolic complications show an abnormally high platelet adhesiveness. infusion of lmd has been shown to reduce platelet adhesiveness as measured by various in vitro tests on blood samples obtained from humans and to inhibit the growth of a mural platelet thrombus at the site of experimental (laser beam) injury in the rabbit's ear chamber. studies have shown an increase in the lysability of thrombi formed in the presence of dextran. a consistent and characteristic alteration in fibrin structure has been observed when fibrin is formed in the presence of dextran, and further experiments demonstrated such fibrin to be more susceptible to plasmin digestion. other studies have shown that dextran infused into patients during surgery increases the lysability of ex vivo thrombi. controlled clinical trials have shown that thrombi in patients treated with dextran have a more pronounced tendency to undergo lysis as determined by phlebography. lmd is evenly distributed in the vascular system. its distribution according to molecular weight shifts toward higher molecular weights as the smaller molecules are excreted by the kidney. in normovolemic subjects, approximately 50% is excreted within 3 hours, 60% is excreted within 6 hours and about 75% within 24 hours. reabsorption of dextran by the renal tubules is negligible. the unexcreted molecules of dextran diffuse into the extravascular compartment and are temporarily taken up by the reticuloendothelial system. some of these molecules are returned to the intravascular compartment via the lymphatics. dextran is slowly degraded by the enzyme dextranase to glucose. solutions containing carbohydrate in the form of dextrose restore blood glucose levels and provide calories. carbohydrate in the form of dextrose may aid in minimizing liver glycogen depletion and exerts a protein sparing action. dextrose injected parenterally undergoes oxidation to carbon dioxide and water. sodium chloride in water dissociates to provide sodium (na + ) and chloride (cl - ) ions. sodium (na + ) is the principal cation of the extracellular fluid and plays a large part in the therapy of fluid and electrolyte disturbances. chloride (cl - ) has an integral role in buffering action when oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange occurs in red blood cells. the distribution and excretion of sodium (na + ) and chloride (cl - ) are largely under the control of the kidney, which maintains a balance between intake and output. water is an essential constituent of all body tissues and accounts for approximately 70% of total body weight. average normal adult daily requirement ranges from two to three liters (1.0 to 1.5 liters each for insensible water loss by perspiration and urine production). water balance is maintained by various regulatory mechanisms. water distribution depends primarily on the concentration of electrolytes in the body compartments and sodium (na + ) plays a major role in maintaining physiologic equilibrium.