Impact of Albumin Infusion Compared With Crystalloid Infusion on Organ Function After Liver Transplantation in Adult Patients

Objectives

To compare the clinical benefit of using albumin versus crystalloids for volume resuscitation on organ function in adult patients after liver transplantation.

Design

A retrospective cohort study

Setting

Data from a tertiary care facility electronic medical records on liver transplantation patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Patients

Adults admitted to the ICU after liver transplantation.

Interventions

Crystalloid fluid resuscitation compared to albumin 5% in the immediate postoperative period after liver transplant.

Measurements and main results

Adults who underwent liver transplant surgery and received a 5% albumin solution were compared with those who received a crystalloid solution. Demographic, etiology, clinical variables, perioperative, and outcome variables were collected. The data were analyzed using the t test, two-way analysis of variance, and multivariate analysis. After applying all the exclusion criteria, the study group comprised 57 adult patients (30 males; 52.6%) who underwent liver transplantation, including 27 patients in the crystalloid group (47.4%) and 30 patients in the albumin group (52.6%). The mean patient age was 52.2 years. Patient characteristics were similar in the 2 groups. Daily Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores decreased gradually during the postoperative period in both groups, and the trend in SOFA scores was similar in the 2 groups. Analysis showed no statistical difference in SOFA score between the 2 groups postoperatively (P = .84). Multivariate linear regression analysis identified the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score as a predictor of the 7-day postoperative SOFA score in this population.

Conclusions

In this study, the use of albumin or crystalloid solution in patients undergoing liver transplantation appeared to have no significant difference in terms of the risk of organ dysfunction. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and fully understand the potential benefits and risks of using either type of fluid.