[Indications for postoperative human albumin therapy in the intensive care unit--a prospective randomized study]

In a prospectively randomised study (n = 161) we examined whether postoperative human albumin administration is justified in intensive care patients whenever the colloid osmotic pressure (COP) decreases below 26 cm H2O. Postoperative complication rates did not increase in the control group, although only 22% of these patients received albumin as compared to 100% in the therapy group. A decline of the COP below extreme values (even under 20 cm H2O) was compatible with survival. This study established only one indication for postoperative human albumin therapy: acute volume substitution in patients on dialysis. Consequently, in the second half year of this study only 3 of 49 patients of the control group received human albumin therapy.