OBJECTIVETo investigate whether albumin administration is beneficial in early stage of postoperative hypoalbuminemia after gastrointestinal surgery.

METHODSA prospective randomized control trial was designed. One hundred and twenty-seven patients suffered from hypoalbuminemia after gastrointestinal surgery were randomly divided into albumin group (64 cases) and saline group (control group, 63 cases) by using random number form. The albumin group was given 100 ml 20% human albumin daily for 3 days; and in control group, saline 100 ml daily was administered for 3 days after the operation. The disease course of postoperative hypoalbuminemia, nutritional status, complications and hospital stay were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSPlasma albumin level in both groups decreased significantly after the operation (P < 0.05). No significant differences was found in the change of postoperative plasma albumin level between the two groups (P > 0.05). Postoperative plasma albumin, total protein and pre-albumin levels were similar in the two groups. Three-day and 5-day plasma albumin recovery ratios were similar in the two groups, and the 7-day recovery ratio was lower in the albumin group (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (23.4% vs. 12.7%, P = 0.116).

CONCLUSIONAlbumin administration in early stage of postoperative hypoalbuminemia following gastrointestinal surgery is not beneficial either in correcting hypoalbuminemia or in clinical outcomes.