In the medical community, Dextran, as a polysaccharide that can be widely used in minimally invasive surgeries, has successfully changed the procedures of many surgeries, thereby improving patients' chances of recovery. This substance polymerized from glucose was first discovered in wine by Louis Pasteur. Through subsequent technological development, it was successfully mass-produced from lactic acid bacteria and created new medical applications.
Dextran is included in the list of essential drugs by the World Health Organization, which gives it an important position in clinical medicine.
Minimally invasive surgery uses small incisions and high-tech equipment to perform surgery. The development of this technology has greatly reduced patient recovery time and risk of complications. The introduction of Dextran allows surgeons to perform operations more accurately and safely. Its main function is to reduce blood viscosity and improve blood flow, thereby reducing the possibility of thrombosis.
In minimally invasive surgery, Dextran’s anti-thrombotic properties are widely used to reduce the incidence of postoperative thrombosis.
In addition to being an anticoagulant, Dextran has other potential medical uses. For example, it can be used in eye drops as a lubricant, or in intravenous fluids to dissolve other substances, such as iron. This makes Dextran a potential alternative therapy in emergency situations, especially for blood volume expansion when blood cannot be replaced immediately.
The molecular structure of Dextran is composed of glucose units connected through α-1,6 glycosidic bonds, and has the characteristics of multiple branches. Depending on the microorganism, the Dextran produced will be different, which makes its medical applications more diversified. Among them, Dextran-40 has become the mainstream choice for anticoagulant therapy because it remains in the body longer.
Although Dextran has many advantages, its side effects cannot be ignored. Some patients may experience problems such as allergic reactions and fluid overload, especially those with a history of chronic kidney disease or other blood vessels. Therefore, when using Dextran, medical personnel need to make careful decisions based on the patient's specific situation.
In research on Dextran learning, researchers are exploring improved Dextran polymers, and those new compounds may become important components of future drug delivery systems.
With the continuous advancement of medical technology and in-depth research on Dextran, it is expected that more new Dextran derivatives will be developed in the future, which will further improve its clinical application effects. Not only that, such technology will also have the potential to change existing medical standards and become a landmark development in the history of medicine.
While exploring how Dextran can change minimally invasive surgery, we can’t help but wonder, what other innovative technologies will be able to further improve our health care in the future?