Does Priming Implementation with Low-dose Albumin Reduce Postoperative Bleeding following Cardiopulmonary Bypass?
This study aimed to assess whether low doses of albumin in the priming solution for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) reduce postoperative bleeding. Three-hundred and seventy-seven patients undergoing CPB were retrospectively assigned to group A (154 patients, CPB primed with 20 ml/kg Ringer Lactate solution + 0.75mg/kg albumin 20%) and group B (223 patients with 20 ml/kg Ringer Lactate). A significant difference was found in terms of reoperations for bleeding (group A 0/154 versus group B 9/223; P=0.033). The mean number of blood derivatives transfused per patient was higher in group B than in group A (p <0.001). Platelet count after CPB was higher in group A than in group B (175±52×103/μl versus 131±70×103/μl; P=0.045). The amount of postoperative bleeding was 525ml versus 680ml at 24hrs (p <0.001), 819ml versus 1102ml at 48hrs, (p <0.001), 963ml versus 1294ml at 72hrs, (p <0.045) (group A versus group B respectively). Crystalloid priming with low-dose albumin reduces postoperative bleeding.