Albumin use for fluid resuscitation in cardiac surgical patients: a survey of Canadian perioperative care providers.

Purpose: To evaluate the perceptions and practices of Canadian cardiovascular anesthesiologists and intensivists towards intravenous albumin as a resuscitation fluid in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of cardiac anesthesiologists and intensivists involved in the care of cardiac surgical patients. The 22-item survey included seven open-ended questions and assessed practice patterns and attitudes towards albumin. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using counts and proportions. Qualitative data were analyzed to identify themes describing albumin use patterns in Canada.

Results: A total of 133 respondents from seven provinces participated, with 83 (62%) using albumin perioperatively. The majority of respondents (77%) felt a low fluid balance in cardiac surgical patients was important, and that supplementing crystalloids with albumin was helpful for this objective (67%). There was poor agreement among survey respondents regarding the role of albumin for faster vasopressor weaning or intensive care discharge, and ≥ 90% did not feel albumin reduced mortality, renal injury, or coagulopathy. Nevertheless, cardiac surgical patients were identified as a distinct population where albumin may help to minimize fluid balance. There was an acknowledged paucity of formal evidence supporting possible benefits. Fewer than 10% of respondents could identify institutional or national guidelines for albumin use. A lack of evidence supporting albumin use in cardiac surgical patients, especially those at highest risk of complications, was a frequently identified concern.

Conclusions: The majority of Canadian anesthesiologists and intensivists (62%) use albumin in cardiac surgical patients. There is clinical equipoise regarding its utility, and an acknowledged need for higher quality evidence to guide practice.