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Abstract

A blood substitute suitable for replacing blood in mammalian subjects when performance of surgical procedures at hypothermic temperatures is described. The blood substitute comprises water, electrolytes at physiological concentration, dextran 40 at a concentration sufficient for the blood substitute to achieve a colloidal suspension having a fluid osmotic pressure essentially equivalent to mammalian plasma, HEPES buffer at a physiological pH, dextrose, magnesium ion at a concentration of about 0.01M and potassium ion at a concentration greater than 10 mEq per liter sufficient to prevent or arrest cardiac fibrillation. In one embodiment the blood substitute is a multi-solution system wherein the solutions comprise differing levels of the above-indicated componants and are administered sequentially to completely replace a subjects circulating blood.

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