Crystalloid versus colloid for circulatory preload for epidural caesarean section.

Sixty mothers were randomly allocated to receive either 2 litres of crystalloid or 1 litre of colloid solution (hydroxyethyl starch) in order to preload the circulation prior to elective Caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia. There were no differences in the incidence of hypotension, degree of haemodilution, umbilical cord blood gas tensions or umbilical blood osmolalities between the two groups.