Use of albumin in perioperative and intensive care medicine

Abstract

Albumin is still a widely studied protein of the human body. Historically, it has been infused as a volume replacement using its oncotic properties. In the field of fluid therapy in recent years, it has been compared with other types of solutions in various clinical indications and its safety was monitored. Another subject of research is its other biological effects, which are used in specific clinical situations: liver failure, prevention of acute renal failure, adult acute respiratory distress syndrome, traumatic brain injury, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. The review article summarizes the current state of knowledge and its use in adult patients in intensive care as well as in neonatology. It also discusses selected clinical syndromes and the hitherto known physiology of albumin in the human body. It also deals with the use of albumin in extracorporeal support of organ functions: extracorporeal circulation in the cardiac surgery, dialysis and plasmapheresis.