[Colloid osmotic pressure--a parameter of postoperative protein therapy. A pilot study]

120 intensive-care patients were examined postoperatively in a pilot study. The patients were divided into two groups. In group 1 human albumin was given when the serum protein concentration decreased below 5 g%, in group 2 when the colloid osmotic pressure (COP) decreased below 27 cmH2O. Patients of group 2 received less human albumin, but despite the lower human albumin supply these patients did not worse postoperatively as compared to group 1. On the contrary, the trend could be observed that the periods of ventilation were shorter (possibly due to the lower volume load of the patients) and the serum creatinine concentrations were lower (possibly due to the increased supply of crystalloid solutions) if smaller amounts of albumin were given. It may be concluded that the postoperative human albumin supply is unnecessary if the COP ranges 27 cmH2O or more.