My wife just went through 4 liver surgeries over the last 9 months, and one of the things that was given her in the last two surgeries in Chicago was an artifical albumin substance (Hetastarch or something like that). With some of the comments by the anestithest (spelling is most likely wrong), as well as some research I did on the internet, it appears that an overwhelming number of people feel that hetastarch causes bleeding when large amounts are given (over 1L).

However, the research / medical papers I was reading on the subject seemed to all be studies where heart surgeries (and therefore large amounts of heparin) were involved.

My curiosity is whether that could / does present some false data, and whethere there are any ongoing or published studies where heparin is not involved?

This is mainly for my own research / curiosity.

Thanks.
-Doug