Last reviewed 2026-04-20 · How we verify

Hextend

At a glance

Approved indications

No approved indications tracked.

Boxed warnings

• WARNING: MORTALITY; KIDNEY INJURY; COAGULOPATHY • Use of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) products, including HEXTEND ® , increases risk of o Mortality o Kidney injury o Coagulopathy DO NOT use HES products, including HEXTEND ® , unless adequate alternative treatment is unavailable.

Common side effects

• Rash
• Urticaria
• Pruritus
• Flushing
• Erythema multiforme
• Vomiting
• Headaches
• Muscle pains
• Peripheral edema of lower extremities
• Fever
• Chills
• Mild influenza-like symptoms

Serious adverse events

• Increased mortality in critically ill subjects with sepsis
• Acute kidney injury (AKI) including need for RRT
• Increased mortality in blunt trauma subjects
• Increased coagulopathy in surgical subjects
• Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions
• Cardiac arrest
• Ventricular fibrillation
• Severe hypotension
• Non-cardiac pulmonary edema
• Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy

Key clinical trials

• Comparing Reduction With ESD- Versus APC-TORe (NA)
• Re-bleeding in Giant Meningioma and Intraoperative Hydroxyethyl Starch (HES) Fluid Therapy
• Hydroxyethyl Starch Versus Crystalloid and Postoperative Major Adverse Kidney Complications (PHASE4)
• Crystalloid vs Colloid for Hemodynamics During Anesthesia Induction in TAVR Patients (NA)
• Optimized Strict Fluid Management Helps Improve Endpoints After Liver Dissection (NA)
• Cardiac Output in Preeclamptic (NA)
• Optimizing Fluid Resuscitation in Adults With Major Burns: A Randomized Trial of Burn Navigator™ Versus Parkland Formula (PHASE4)
• Priming of Cardiopulmonary Bypass With Hydroxyethyl Starch 130/0.4 or Sodium Chloride 0.9% : Pilot Study in Adult Elective Conventional Cardiac Surgery (PHASE3)

Primary sources

Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.