Is albumin administration beneficial in early stage of postoperative hypoalbuminemia following gastrointestinal surgery?: a prospective randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Surgeons commonly see postoperative hypoalbuminemia, but whether exogenous albumin administration is beneficial for these patients is unclear.


METHODS
A prospective, randomized study design was used, allocating 127 hypoalbuminemic patients into the albumin or saline group after gastrointestinal surgery. We investigated the development of postoperative hypoalbuminemia, nutritional status, postoperative fluid balance, postoperative complications, and postoperative hospital stay.


RESULTS
Plasma albumin concentrations of both groups decreased after operations (P <.01). No significant differences were found between groups (P >.05) in changes in postoperative plasma albumin concentration from baseline levels. Postoperative plasma albumin, total protein, and prealbumin levels were similar in the 2 groups. While 3-day and 5-day recovery ratios were similar, 7-day recovery ratios were lower in the albumin group (P <.05). No significant difference was found in overall fluid administration, urine output, or the incidence of postoperative complications between groups (23.4% for albumin group and 12.7% for control group, P = .116).


CONCLUSIONS
Albumin administration in the early stage of postoperative hypoalbuminemia following gastrointestinal surgery is not beneficial in correcting hypoalbuminemia or in clinical outcomes.
Yuan
Xi-Yu
XY
Department Gastro-intestinal Pancreatic Surgery, Centre of Gastric Cancer, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China 510080.
Zhang
Chang-Hua
CH
He
Yu-Long
YL
Yuan
Yan-Xian
YX
Cai
Shi-Rong
SR
Luo
Ning-Xiang
NX
Zhan
Wen-Hua
WH
Cui
Ji
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000418:Albumins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D034141:Hypoalbuminemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000418:Albumins