Infucol Gek 6%: description, use and special instructions
Infucol Gek 6% is a medicinal product belonging to the group of plasma replacement solutions based on gelatin, starch and albumin. The drug is manufactured by Zerum-Werk Bernburg AG in Germany. The main active ingredient is polyhydroxyethyl starch.
Infucol Gek 6% is a solution for infusion, which is used in the treatment of hypovolemia, hypovolemic shock (prevention and therapy), hemodilution (including isovolemic) and to increase the collection of leukocyte mass by centrifugation (as an additional agent for leukapheresis).
Contraindications to the use of the drug include hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, severe hemorrhagic diathesis and other disorders accompanied by bleeding. The drug is also contraindicated in case of hypervolemia, overhydration or dehydration, severe congestive heart failure, severe renal impairment, pregnancy, breastfeeding and in children under 10 years of age.
When using Infucol Gek 6%, side effects may occur, such as allergic and anaphylactoid reactions (including urticaria, bronchospasm with difficulty breathing, pulmonary edema), heart failure, increased levels of amylase in the blood serum, and also against the background of large doses - coagulopathy (transient prolongation of blood clotting time, prothrombin and partial thrombin time).
When using the drug, it is necessary to take into account a possible decrease in serum values of total protein, albumin, calcium, platelets, fibrinogen, hemoglobin, as well as an increase in amylase levels, which may complicate the diagnosis of pancreatitis. Before and during treatment, it is recommended to frequently and regularly monitor the content of leukocytes, platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit, creatinine and other indicators.
The drug should be used with caution in cases of pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure, with altered renal glomerular filtration (since the main route of excretion is renal), as well as with a history of liver disease (with repeated infusions, the level of indirect bilirubin in the blood serum is normalized 96 hours after end of the last infusion). It is also necessary to take into account the possible decrease in blood pressure when using the drug, especially in elderly patients.
The dosage of Infucol Gek 6% and the duration of treatment should be determined by the doctor individually depending on the clinical situation and the patient’s condition. Usually the drug is administered intravenously at a rate of 20-40 drops per minute. The maximum dose of the drug for adults is 40 ml/kg body weight for 24 hours.
Infucol Gek 6% should be stored in a place protected from light at a temperature of 2 to 25 degrees Celsius. The drug can be stored at temperatures up to 30 degrees Celsius for no more than 6 months.
If side effects occur, you should immediately stop using the drug and seek medical help. You should also tell the doctor about all medications the patient is taking, including those that have been taken recently or may be taken in the near future.