Physiologically acceptable aqueous solutions and methods for their use
Artificial plasma-like solutions and methods for their use are provided. The subject solutions include: electrolytes and an oncotic agent. The subject solutions find use in a variety of applications, particularly in those applications where at least a portion of a host's blood volume is replaced with a blood substitute.
1. A method of administering a physiologically acceptable aqueous solution to a subject in need thereof, said method comprising:
(a) positioning said subject in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and
(b) administering to said subject a physiologically acceptable aqueous solution comprising:
(i) electrolytes,
(ii) a dynamic buffering system comprising a carboxylic acid, salt or ester thereof, and
(iii) at least a first oncotic agent wherein said oncotic agent is a hydroxyethyl starch or dextran and wherein said solution does not comprise a conventional biological buffer.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said physiologically acceptable aqueous solution further comprises a second oncotic agent wherein said second oncotic agent is a hydroxyethyl starch or dextran and has a clearance rate which is different from the clearance rate of said first oncotic agent.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said first and second oncotic agents have different average molecular weights.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said first oncotic agent is a low to medium average molecular weight oncotic agent and said second oncotic agent is a high average molecular weight oncotic agent.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein said first and second oncotic agents are polysaccharides.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein said polysaccharides are hydroxyethyl starches.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein said first oncotic agent has a clearance rate that differs from that of the second oncotic agent by about 2 fold.
8. The method of claim 2 , wherein said first oncotic agent has a clearance rate of 2 to 3 hours and said second oncotic agent has a clearance rate of 6 hours.
9. The method of claim 2 , wherein said carboxylic acid, salt, or ester thereof is selected from the group of: lactate, acetate, gluconate, citrate and pyruvate.
10. The method of claim 2 , wherein said dynamic buffering system further comprises bicarbonate.
11. A method of replacing circulating blood volume in a subject with a physiologically acceptable aqueous solution, said method comprising:
administering to said subject a physiologically acceptable aqueous solution comprising:
(i) electrolytes,
(ii) a dynamic buffering system comprising a carboxylic acid, salt or ester thereof,
(iii) at least one oncotic agent, wherein said oncotic agent is a hydroxyethyl starch or dextran;
wherein said solution does not comprise a conventional biological buffer and said solution replaces at least a portion of the circulating blood volume of said subject.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said subject is in a pressurized atmosphere of increased oxygen concentration, wherein said oxygen concentration is greater than 20% oxygen.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said oxygen concentration is 100% oxygen.
14. The method of claim , wherein said subject is in a hyperbaric chamber at hyperbaric pressures of about 0.07 to about 2 atmospheres over ambient pressure.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the method comprises maintaining the body temperature of said subject at normal temperature.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein method comprises maintaining the body temperature of said subject below normal temperature.
17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising administering at least one cardioplegic agent, wherein said cardioplegic agent is lidocaine, procaine, or novocaine.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein said solution is augmented by adding an adduct and wherein said adduct is propanediol or glucose having a concentration ranging from 50 mM to 60 mM.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein said carboxylic acid, salt, or ester thereof is selected from the group of: lactate, acetate, gluconate, citrate and pyruvate.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein said electrolytes comprises:
a) Na + ;
b) Cl − ;
c) Ca ++ ;
d) K + ; and
e) Mg ++ .