Acute Volume Expansion with Colloid Increases Oxygen Delivery and Consumption but Does Not Improve the Oxygen Extraction in Severe Preeclampsia

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of volume expansion with colloid on oxygen consumption (VO2), oxygen delivery (DO2) and the oxygen extraction ratio in patients with severe preeclampsia. The study was prospective and descriptive and took place in the tertiary care labor and delivery unit in a university hospital. Fourteen women with severe preeclampsia who received a pulmonary artery catheter and radial arterial line to monitor their hemodynamic and respiratory status took part in the study. Patients who had received prior medication or volume expansion were excluded. The intervention employed was acute volume expansion, using colloidal solutions (Dextran 70 or Haemaccel) to elevate the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) > 12 mm Hg, and this was followed by repeat measurements. The main outcome measures were PCWP, mean pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, VO2, DO2, and oxygen extraction. The VO2 and DO2 (but not oxygen extraction) increased...