Albumin administration is associated with acute kidney injury in cardiac surgery: a propensity score analysis.

In this retrospective study including 984 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, the authors observed that perioperative albumin administration was associated with an increased risk of acute kidney injury. This effect was proportional to the dose administered and remained significant even in patients without postoperative haemodynamic instability.

This observation should be confirmed in further prospective randomised control trials. Of note, the use of HES 130/0.4 in this particular population was not associated with an increased risk of acute kidney injury.

– Philippe Van der Linden