Adverse effects related to icodextrin 4%. Our experience

Icodextrin 4% solution is a well established agent which prevents adhesion formation after gynaecological surgery. Its safe usage has been well proved with long term clinical trials. We present five cases where the adverse effects encountered were related to icodextrin 4%. In two cases painless vulval oedema developed after laparoscopy and resolved in the next four days. There were two cases of symptomatic pleural effusion formation after a laparoscopic and a laparotomy surgery, which both gradually subsided after the fourth postoperative day. The fifth case was an anaphylactoid reaction attributed to icodextrin. Surgeons who use icodextrin 4% solution should be aware of the composition and metabolism of the product in order to safely manage any potential adverse effects observed.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]