title: [Is albumin administration beneficial in early stage of postoperative hypoalbuminemia after gastrointestinal surgery: a prospective randomized control trial].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether albumin administration is beneficial in early stage of postoperative hypoalbuminemia after gastrointestinal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective randomized control trial was designed. One hundred and twenty-seven patients suffered from hypoalbuminemia after gastrointestinal surgery were randomly divided into albumin group (64 cases) and saline group (control group, 63 cases) by using random number form. The albumin group was given 100 ml 20% human albumin daily for 3 days; and in control group, saline 100 ml daily was administered for 3 days after the operation. The disease course of postoperative hypoalbuminemia, nutritional status, complications and hospital stay were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma albumin level in both groups decreased significantly after the operation (P < 0.05). No significant differences was found in the change of postoperative plasma albumin level between the two groups (P > 0.05). Postoperative plasma albumin, total protein and pre-albumin levels were similar in the two groups. Three-day and 5-day plasma albumin recovery ratios were similar in the two groups, and the 7-day recovery ratio was lower in the albumin group (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (23.4% vs. 12.7%, P = 0.116).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Albumin administration in early stage of postoperative hypoalbuminemia following gastrointestinal surgery is not beneficial either in correcting hypoalbuminemia or in clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Shi-rong
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Ning-xiang
authors.initials: NX
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Xi-yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Yu-long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000418:Albumins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D034141:Hypoalbuminemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins