Critical Care Therapies
The information contained in this page is intended for UK healthcare professionals only.
Albumin Therapy
Baxter's critical care therapies includes albumin which is primarly used as plasma-volume replacement therapy for the treatment of hypovolemia.
Human albumin is an essential protein found in human plasma.
Albumin supplementation restores intravascular volume and maintains cardiac output and colloid osmotic pressure.
Hypovolemia
Hypovolemia is a possible indication for albumin. Its effectiveness in reversing hypovolemia depends largely upon its ability to draw interstitial fluid into the circulation. It is most effective with patients who are well hydrated.
Although crystalloid solutions and colloid-containing plasma substitutes can be used in emergency treatment of shock, albumin has a prolonged intravascular half-life.
Hypoalbuminemia
Hypoalbuminemia can result from one or more of the following:
(1) Inadequate production (malnutrition, burns, major injury, infections, etc.)
(2) Excessive catabolism (burns, major injury, pancreatitis, etc.)
(3) Loss from the body (hemorrhage, excessive renal excretion, burn exudates, etc.)
(4) Redistribution within the body (major surgery, various inflammatory conditions, etc.)
When albumin deficit is the result of excessive protein loss, the effect of administration of albumin will be temporary unless the underlying disorder is reversed. In most cases, increased nutritional replacement of amino acids and/or protein with concurrent treatment of the underlying disorder will restore normal plasma albumin levels more effectively than albumin solutions. Occasionally hypoalbuminemia accompanying severe injuries, infections or pancreatitis cannot be quickly reversed and nutritional supplements may fail to restore serum albumin levels.
Ceprotin, Flexbumin and Brevibloc
For more information, please see the Product Catalogue.
