title: Analysis of post-operative hypalbuminaemia: a clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Analysis of severity, causes and relevance of hypalbuminaemia developing after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing elective aortic surgery (n = 11) or minor extra-abdominal surgery (n = 6).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum albumin concentration, blood loss, nitrogen balance and complications were determined until the fifth post-operative day. The contributions of haemodilution, albumin loss, albumin catabolism and redistribution were calculated using existing formula. The relation of hypalbuminaemia to the endocrine-metabolic response was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant hypalbuminaemia occurred after aortic surgery, in the absence of significant complications. No haemodilution occurred. Analysis indicated that 18% of hypalbuminaemia was caused by blood loss. Only 6% could be attributed to albumin catabolism, despite a significant correlation with the endocrine-metabolic response. Seventy-seven percent of hypalbuminaemia was attributed to albumin redistribution. No hypalbuminaemia occurred after minor surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Post-operative hypalbuminaemia is a normal finding early after aortic surgery. It is mainly caused by albumin redistribution, not by metabolic changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Universitu Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Smeets
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kievit
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Dulfer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hermans
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Moolenaar
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D001810:Blood Volume; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D006438:Hemodilution; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007019:Hypoproteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013511:Minor Surgical Procedures; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D009584:Nitrogen; D006854:Hydrocortisone