Development of Clinical Index for Appropriate Hyperoncotic Albumin Use

We designed a clinical index to facilitate the appropriate use of hyperoncotic albumin. We judged the use of hyperoncotic albumin as appropriate or inadequate according to pre-administration serum albumin levels. Then, we calculated the monthly rates of appropriate and inadequate use for our entire hospital, each department, and each doctor who ordered hyperoncotic albumin. Both usage rates improved after the results were reported to the doctors and the cases of inadequate usage were examined. On the other hand, both the number of orders for albumin and the total volume of albumin used in the hospital increased during the investigation period. These results indicate that factors other than pre-administration serum albumin levels play an important role in the judgment of albumin use.