User:Mr. Ibrahem/Hydroxyethyl starch

Hydroxyethyl starch (HES), sold under the brand name Voluven among others, is a volume expander used to treat hypovolemia. A crystalloid solution is generally preferred. It is given by injection into a vein.

Common side effects include itchiness. Other side effects may include anaphylaxis, bleeding, heart failure, and shock. Use in the critically ill is associated with an increased risk of death and kidney problems. It is a manufactured colloid solution.

Hydroxyethyl starch came into medical use in the 1960s. Europe restricted their use in 2013, and removed them from market in 2018 due to associated side effects. In the United States it costs about 80 USD for a 500 mL bag as of 2021.