Colloid plasma volume expander
Gelatin (succinylated)
Brand names: Gelofusine, Volplex
Adult dose
Dose: 500mL–1500mL IV per haemodynamic response
Route: IV
Frequency: PRN
Clinical pearls
- Crystalloids are first-line for fluid resuscitation per NICE/UK Resus
- Avoid in critical illness/sepsis — risk of AKI
Contraindications
- Hypervolaemia
- Severe heart failure
- Severe coagulopathy
- Renal failure with oliguria/anuria
- Hypersensitivity to gelatin
- Sepsis (caution — increased AKI risk)
Side effects
- Anaphylactoid reactions
- Renal impairment
- Coagulopathy with large volumes
- Itch
Monitoring
- Vital signs
- U&E
- Coagulation (large volumes)
Reference: BNF; NICE NG29; UK Resus Council; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/gelatin/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
- Endotracheal Tube Depth and Tidal Volume Calculator · Airway Management
- Cardiac Output by Thermodilution (Fick Principle) Calculator · Haemodynamics
- Ideal & Adjusted Body Weight · Body Composition
- PLASMIC Score for TTP · Haematological Diagnosis
- Blood Volume Calculation (Nadler Formula) · Transfusion Medicine
- Sickle Cell Exchange Transfusion Volume · Transfusion Medicine
Pathways
- New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation · ESC 2020 AF Guidelines; NICE NG196
- Hypertensive Emergency · ESC/ESH 2018 Hypertension Guidelines; NICE NG136
- Bradycardia Management · Resuscitation Council UK ABCDE; ESC 2021 Pacing Guidelines
- Ventricular Tachycardia / Fibrillation · Resuscitation Council UK ACLS; ESC 2022 Ventricular Arrhythmia Guidelines
- Syncope Assessment · ESC 2018 Syncope Guidelines; NICE NG109
- Acute Chest Pain · NICE CG95; ESC 2023 ACS Guidelines