Plasma dextran levels after abdominal instillation of 32% dextran 70: evidence for prolonged intraperitoneal retention.

Postoperative ascites in patients receiving intraperitoneal dextran 70 may result from slow absorption. We tested this by instilling 250 ml of dextran 70 into the peritoneal cavity of patients undergoing tuboplasty. Serum dextran levels were undetectable until 24 hours after operation and rose during the next 4 days. Ascites in patients with intraperitoneal dextran 70 results from third spacing in response to the persistent osmotic load.