Why this is interesting...

In many ways, human albumin might be the perfect colloid fluid – and concentrated 20% albumin could be the ideal resuscitation fluid in the critical care setting, where fluid overload is otherwise a common consequence. Because of its high relative concentration, the intravascular expansion effect of 20% albumin is roughly double its infused volume, unlike 4% or 5% albumin.

In the SWIPE trial Mårtensson et al showed that even in the leaky-capillary state of critical illness, resuscitation with 20% albumin decreased fluid needs, lessened positive fluid-balance states, and was not associated with harm when compared to 4-5% albumin.

What did they do?

This was a well designed multicentre trial across three adult Australian & UK ICUs. 321 patients were randomized to either 20% or 4-5% albumin resuscitation during their first 48h in ICU.

Bottom line:

Probably the most important takeaway is simply that resuscitation with 20% albumin is practical and results in no patient harm compared with 4-5%. The 576mL median lower difference in fluid balance is unlikely alone to be dramatically consequential.

Nonetheless an important first step before larger studies can look at morbidity and mortality outcomes.

Cautiously note though that for logistic reasons the trial was open label, so treating clinicians were well aware of which fluid they were using. Additionally, they were given free reign to choose additional resuscitation fluids (crystalloid or synthetic colloid) as the clinical situation required.

summary

• Johan Mårtensson, Shailesh Bihari, Jonathan Bannard-Smith, Neil J Glassford, Patryck Lloyd-Donald, Luca Cioccari, Nora Luethi, Aiko Tanaka, Marco Crisman, Nicolas Rey de Castro, Marcus Ottochian, Agnes Huang, Maria Cronhjort, Andrew D Bersten, Shivesh Prakash, Michael Bailey, Glenn M Eastwood, and Rinaldo Bellomo.
• Department of Intensive Care, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. johan.martensson@sll.se.
• Intensive Care Med. 2018 Nov 1; 44 (11): 1797-1806.

PurposeWe set out to assess the resuscitation fluid requirements and physiological and clinical responses of intensive care unit (ICU) patients resuscitated with 20% albumin versus 4-5% albumin.MethodsWe performed a randomised controlled trial in 321 adult patients requiring fluid resuscitation within 48 h of admission to three ICUs in Australia and the UK.ResultsThe cumulative volume of resuscitation fluid at 48 h (primary outcome) was lower in the 20% albumin group than in the 4-5% albumin group [median difference - 600 ml, 95% confidence interval (CI) - 800 to - 400; P < 0.001]. The 20% albumin group had lower cumulative fluid balance at 48 h (mean difference - 576 ml, 95% CI - 1033 to - 119; P = 0.01). Peak albumin levels were higher but sodium and chloride levels lower in the 20% albumin group. Median (interquartile range) duration of mechanical ventilation was 12.0 h (7.6, 33.1) in the 20% albumin group and 15.3 h (7.7, 58.1) in the 4-5% albumin group (P = 0.13); the proportion of patients commenced on renal replacement therapy after randomization was 3.3% and 4.2% (P = 0.67), respectively, and the proportion discharged alive from ICU was 97.4% and 91.1% (P = 0.02).ConclusionsResuscitation with 20% albumin decreased resuscitation fluid requirements, minimized positive early fluid balance and was not associated with any evidence of harm compared with 4-5% albumin. These findings support the safety of further exploration of resuscitation with 20% albumin in larger randomised trials.Trial Registrationhttp://www.anzctr.org.au . Identifier ACTRN12615000349549.

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