The relationship between extracorporeal circuit prime, albumin, and postoperative weight gain in children.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated postoperative weight gain in children who received albumin versus crystalloid prime for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).


METHODS
A retrospective case-controlled study. Children whose extracorporeal (EC) circuit prime contained albumin (group 1) were matched with those whose prime contained only crystalloid (group 2) on the basis of age, weight, and surgical repair.


METHODS
A university-based medical center.


METHODS
Seventy-six children (newborn to 4 years of age) who underwent CPB for correction of a congenital heart anomaly from 1993 to 1995. Group 1 underwent surgery from October 1994 to September 1995, and group 2 from February 1993 to September 1994.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Group 1 had less weight gain on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 2 and 3 compared with group 2 (p = 0.04 on POD 1). Albumin (grams per milliliter) prime and prime volume in milliliters per kilogram were the best predictors of weight gain (p < 0.004), with prime volume being the more important. Children who weighed less than 7.5 kg received more prime volume and had greater weight gain than children who weighed 7.5 kg or greater on PODs 1, 2, and 3 (p < 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Data suggest that adding albumin to the EC circuit prime and minimizing the prime volume will result in less postoperative weight gain. Further prospective study with a larger sample is warranted to determine whether albumin prime offers other clinical benefits.
Aukerman
J
J
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Health Care Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0211, USA.
Voepel-Lewis
T
T
Riegger
L Q
LQ
Siewert
M
M
Shayevitz
J R
JR
Mosca
R
R
D000418:Albumins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001810:Blood Volume; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000077324:Crystalloid Solutions; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D005544:Forecasting; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery; D006438:Hemodilution; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D010952:Plasma Substitutes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain
D000418:Albumins; D000077324:Crystalloid Solutions; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D010952:Plasma Substitutes; D012709:Serum Albumin