Well, there I was a few days ago writing a new ‘Medical Information’ sheet to have in my bag in case I ever get admitted into hospital. One of the main reasons for doing this is so that I am not given a dextrose drip. Then, lo and behold, up pops this study from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine:

IV fluids used by NHS responsible for unnecessary deaths

I know: Gulp. Spooky coincidence or what?

Anyway, click above to read the full article. I read the actual research report too and note that a colloid/starch IV fluid included those with any kind of starch, gelatin, glucose and dextrins.

The problem with them has mainly centred around renal failure BUT notice the admission here that there were more reactions generally with the starch IVs:

The safety of using colloids containing hydroxyethyl starch has been debated for years. They are widely used to treat shock following severe blood loss by increasing blood volume but recent large high quality studies have linked starch use to renal failure. The trials also found more adverse reactions with starch. Crystalloids work in the same way but do not contain starch.

Are those corn or grain-sensitives??

The authors are calling for non-starch saline-only drips, which are just as effective, to be used – and so am I! I don’t want to be given a starch drip that makes my oesophagus swell and no-one knows because I am unconscious! Morbid maybe, but potentially could happen, hence my new Medical Info sheet.