Author/Authors :
Uyar, M Ege Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Anesteziyoloji ve Reanimasyon Anabilim Dalı, Turkey , Bor, C Ege Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Anestezi ve Reanimasyon Anabilim Dalı, Turkey , Acar, L Ege Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Anestezi ve Reanimasyon Anabilim Dalı, Turkey , Demirağ, K Ege Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Anesteziyoloji ve Reanimasyon Anabilim Dalı, Turkey
Abstract :
Aim: Low serum level of albumin has been shown as an adverse prognostic indicator in orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) patients and they can become profoundly hypoalbuminaemic in the early postoperative period. We routinely administer albumin to liver recipients having a serum albumin level less than 3.0 g.dL^-1. Our aim was to evaluate our albumin supplementation strategy retrospectively during the postoperative period in patients undergoing OLT.Materials and Methods: Eighty one liver recipients admitted were divided into 2 groups. The albumin group [Group Alb(+), n=57] received 20% albumin until serum albumin concentration increased over 3.0 g.dL^-1. The no-albumin group [Group Alb(–), n=24] did not receive albumin.Results: In Group Alb(+), the admission albumin level was 2.5±0.4 g.dL^-1 and the discharge level was 2.7±0.6 g.dL^-1 (p=0.075). Average albumin supplementation in all 57 patients was 239.9±206 mL. In Group Alb(–), admission and discharge albumin levels were 3.4±0.4 and 3.1±0.5 g.dL^-1, respectively (p=0.071). Three patients in Group Alb(+) and 1 patient in Group Alb(–) died in the ICU due to sepsis.Conclusion: Albumin concentration did not decrease significantly in Group Alb(–). Despite this, we administered a mean volume of approximately 240 mL 20% albumin to liver recipients who had a serum level of less than 3.0 g.dL^-1 during the postoperative period. Serum albumin concentration did not show a significant difference between admission and discharge levels.
