In case of large blood loss caused by a complex operation, trauma, burns, poisoning and a number of other reasons, the patient needs a blood transfusion. However, such an event is not always possible to fully implement. In such situations, plasma substituting solutions are used along with donated blood . One of these drugs is, as indicated by the instructions for use, Refortan. Consider what this medication is.
Drug description
The Reftan solution is a medication related to plasma substituting agents. The active substance of this medication is hydroxyethyl starch. Get it from rice, potato, wheat and corn amylopectin. The medicine has a long plasma substituting effect. In addition, it improves the microcirculation of blood in the body and its rheological properties.
The active substance of the drug is hydroxyethyl starch. A medication is produced in the form of a colloidal solution used for infusion.
Distinctive features of the drug:
- The drug has a prolonged plasma substitution effect. Its effect persists for 5-6 hours.
- The medicine has a beneficial effect on blood coagulation.
- Quickly restores lost blood volume. In this case, with the introduction of large doses, it does not provoke swelling.
- The tool restores impaired blood flow.
- Does not affect the functioning of organs.
- The drug eliminates the aggregation of red blood cells, platelets.
- The drug reduces blood viscosity.
- Does not provoke histamine release.
- The medicine is highly tolerated. Its use is rarely accompanied by side effects.
So the drug "Refortan" positions the instructions for use. The manufacturer of this medicine is the German company Berlin-Chemie.
Indications for use
The medicine can be used as a therapeutic or prophylactic. It is in demand in pathologies, which are based on a decrease in blood volume or a violation of its microcirculation.
Thus, the instructions for use recommend the use of the drug "Refortan" in the following cases:
- Hypovolemic conditions caused by surgical interventions, burns, wounds, intoxications, infectious ailments, in which it is necessary to compensate for the volume of circulating blood (BCC).
- Hemodilution (blood dilution).
- Shock state of traumatic, burn, septic character.
- Hemodilution during surgical interventions. The tool is used if necessary to reduce the volume of donated blood.
The medicine is quite effectively used to prevent hypertension during spinal or epidural type anesthesia .
Dosage of medication
The drug is used for jet or drip administration. Dosage depends on the patient's condition.
Instructions for use "Reftan" recommends using as follows:
- The first dose (10-20 ml) must be administered extremely slowly. Since it is impossible to completely exclude anaphylactoid reactions , the drug is used under the strict supervision of a physician.
- With hemorrhagic shock, the solution is administered at a rate of 20 ml / hour. With sepsis and burns, a slower intake of this medication in the body is assumed.
- The daily dosage should not exceed 33 ml of a 6% solution or 20 ml of 10%.
- In case of heavy blood loss, only the doctor is able to determine the speed of administration of the drug and its dosage.
- If transfusion therapy (hemodilution) is necessary, the daily dosage reaches 500 ml. The medicine is introduced into the body within 3-5 days. Such appointments are recommended for patients in whom the level of blood loss is assessed as average. In severe conditions, the drug in the above dose is administered into the body for a month.
- For the treatment of hypovolemia, a 10% solution is recommended. The dosage is calculated based on the ratio: per 1 kg of the patientβs body weight - 20 ml of solution. The duration of the course depends on the condition of the patient and is determined solely by the doctor.

Such dosages are prescribed for both adult patients and children. However, one should know what the Refortan preparation warns about. In children whose age has not reached 12 years, the body is still just forming. Therefore, the manufacturer does not recommend the use of a solution for babies.
Contraindications
A solution, like any drug, has several limitations. According to the instructions, contraindications to drug therapy are such conditions:
- individual sensitivity;
- renal failure;
- children under 12 years old;
- intracranial hypertension;
- pulmonary edema;
- liver failure;
- intracranial bleeding;
- high plasma sodium;
- bleeding disorder;
- hypokalemia;
- increased plasma chloride content.
Does the drug Refortan allow use in pregnancy? In this condition, high caution is required when using this medication.
Doctors categorically avoid using the solution in the first trimester. Indeed, during this period, the medicine can lead to a violation of the embryonic development of the fetus.
The drug can be recommended in the second or third trimester. However, this remedy is prescribed to pregnant women only if it is vital for the mother and the fetus will not cause harm.
Side effects
Negative reactions when using this medication occur quite rarely. However, in some patients, they can still occur. This is indicated by the instructions for use.
"Reftan" is able to provoke side effects, manifested in the form of:
- Allergic reactions: urticaria, pruritus, dermatitis, Quincke's edema, flu-like syndrome, facial flushing, tachycardia.
- Digestive tract disorders: nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, diarrhea.
- Circulatory system problems: hypoproteinemia, shock, increased amylase activity in the blood.
- CNS disorders: neuralgia, headaches, myalgia, dizziness, fainting, coma.
- Problems of the cardiovascular system: arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, the appearance of heart failure.
Drug overdose
With a large volume of injected fluid, the patient may experience extremely negative symptoms. They characterize an overdose of medicine. Instructions for use Reftan recommends use only in the doses described above. This will protect the patient from negative consequences.
Overdose is indicated by such signs:
- hemodynamic impairment;
- clotting problems.
An immediate cessation of infusion is recommended for the treatment of such conditions. For therapeutic purposes, diuretics are prescribed.
special instructions
It is very important to consider the interaction of the Reftan drug with other medicines. If this drug is prescribed together with aminoglycosides, then it is likely that such therapy will have a nephrotoxic effect on the patient.
Do not mix Reftan medicine with other infusion solutions. Possible pharmacological incompatibility of these funds. This can lead to extremely negative consequences.
The main analogues
Are there drugs that have the same indications and have the same effect on the body that the Refortan medicines indicate for use? Analogues that can compete with the original tool can only be selected by the attending physician, taking into account the patient's condition and individual characteristics of his body.
Replace the Reftan drug with the following medications:
- "Venofundin."
- "Hemodez."
- "Voluwen."
- "Infucol."
- "Reopoliglyukin."
- "Stabizole."
- "Volkomkor."
- "Ceruloplasmin."
- To the Wolek.
Opinions about the drug
The medicine is still used for children, if there are serious indications for this. Doctors prescribe a remedy for the children, despite the fact that this does not recommend Refortan medication. In children (reviews indicate this), negative reactions are extremely rare. However, they are no different from side effects that occur in adult patients.
Pregnant women who are diagnosed with gestosis in the middle or severe stage are often left reviews about the drug. Therapy with this medication can perfectly eliminate hypovolemia, interstitial edema and significantly reduces the load on the heart.