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Chest Mar 2024Albumin is used commonly across a wide range of clinical settings to improve hemodynamics, to facilitate fluid removal, and to manage complications of cirrhosis. The...
BACKGROUND
Albumin is used commonly across a wide range of clinical settings to improve hemodynamics, to facilitate fluid removal, and to manage complications of cirrhosis. The International Collaboration for Transfusion Medicine Guidelines developed guidelines for the use of albumin in patients requiring critical care, undergoing cardiovascular surgery, undergoing kidney replacement therapy, or experiencing complications of cirrhosis.
METHODS
Cochairs oversaw the guideline development process and the panel included researchers, clinicians, methodologists, and a patient representative. The evidence informing this guideline arises from a systematic review of randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews, in which multiple databases were searched (inception through November 23, 2022). The panel reviewed the data and formulated the guideline recommendations using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology. The guidelines were revised after public consultation.
RESULTS
The panel made 14 recommendations on albumin use in adult critical care (three recommendations), pediatric critical care (one recommendation), neonatal critical care (two recommendations), cardiovascular surgery (two recommendations), kidney replacement therapy (one recommendation), and complications of cirrhosis (five recommendations). Of the 14 recommendations, two recommendations had moderate certainty of evidence, five recommendations had low certainty of evidence, and seven recommendations had very low certainty of evidence. Two of the 14 recommendations suggested conditional use of albumin for patients with cirrhosis undergoing large-volume paracentesis or with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Twelve of 14 recommendations did not suggest albumin use in a wide variety of clinical situations where albumin commonly is transfused.
CONCLUSIONS
Currently, few evidence-based indications support the routine use of albumin in clinical practice to improve patient outcomes. These guidelines provide clinicians with actionable recommendations on the use of albumin.
PubMed: 38447639
DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2024.02.049 -
JHEP Reports : Innovation in Hepatology Aug 2023Numerous studies have evaluated the role of human albumin (HA) in managing various liver cirrhosis-related complications. However, their conclusions remain partially...
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Numerous studies have evaluated the role of human albumin (HA) in managing various liver cirrhosis-related complications. However, their conclusions remain partially controversial, probably because HA was evaluated in different settings, including indications, patient characteristics, and dosage and duration of therapy.
METHODS
Thirty-three investigators from 19 countries with expertise in the management of liver cirrhosis-related complications were invited to organise an International Special Interest Group. A three-round Delphi consensus process was conducted to complete the international position statement on the use of HA for treatment of liver cirrhosis-related complications.
RESULTS
Twelve clinically significant position statements were proposed. Short-term infusion of HA should be recommended for the management of hepatorenal syndrome, large volume paracentesis, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in liver cirrhosis. Its effects on the prevention or treatment of other liver cirrhosis-related complications should be further elucidated. Long-term HA administration can be considered in specific settings. Pulmonary oedema should be closely monitored as a potential adverse effect in cirrhotic patients receiving HA infusion.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the currently available evidence, the international position statement suggests the potential benefits of HA for the management of multiple liver cirrhosis-related complications and summarises its safety profile. However, its optimal timing and infusion strategy remain to be further elucidated.
IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS
Thirty-three investigators from 19 countries proposed 12 position statements on the use of human albumin (HA) infusion in liver cirrhosis-related complications. Based on current evidence, short-term HA infusion should be recommended for the management of HRS, LVP, and SBP; whereas, long-term HA administration can be considered in the setting where budget and logistical issues can be resolved. However, pulmonary oedema should be closely monitored in cirrhotic patients who receive HA infusion.
PubMed: 37456673
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100785 -
JAMA Network Open Jul 2023The potential association of low-volume paracentesis of less than 5 L with complications in patients with ascites remains unclear, and individuals with cirrhosis and...
IMPORTANCE
The potential association of low-volume paracentesis of less than 5 L with complications in patients with ascites remains unclear, and individuals with cirrhosis and refractory ascites (RA) treated with devices like Alfapump or tunneled-intraperitoneal catheters perform daily low-volume drainage without albumin substitution. Studies indicate marked differences regarding the daily drainage volume between patients; however, it is currently unknown if this alters the clinical course.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the incidence of complications, such as hyponatremia or acute kidney injury (AKI), is associated with the daily drainage volume in patients with devices.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This retrospective cohort study of patients with liver cirrhosis, RA, and a contraindication for a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt who received either device implantation or standard of care (SOC; ie, repeated large-volume paracentesis with albumin infusion), and were hospitalized between 2012 and 2020 were included. Data were analyzed from April to October 2022.
INTERVENTIONS
Daily ascites volume removed.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The primary end points were 90-day incidence of hyponatremia and AKI. Propensity score matching was performed to match and compare patients with devices and higher or lower drainage volumes to those who received SOC.
RESULTS
Overall, 250 patients with RA receiving either device implantation (179 [72%] patients; 125 [70%] male; 54 [30%] female; mean [SD] age, 59 [11] years) or SOC (71 [28%] patients; 41 [67%] male; 20 [33%] female; mean [SD] age, 54 [8]) were included in this study. A cutoff of 1.5 L/d or more was identified to estimate hyponatremia and AKI in the included patients with devices. Drainage of 1.5 L/d or more was associated with hyponatremia and AKI, even after adjusting for various confounders (hazard ratio [HR], 2.17 [95% CI, 1.24-3.78]; P = .006; HR, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.01-2.16]; P = .04, respectively). Moreover, patients with taps of 1.5 L/d or more and less than 1.5 L/d were matched with patients receiving SOC. Those with taps of 1.5 L/d or more had a higher risk of hyponatremia and AKI compared with those receiving SOC (HR, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.06-2.68]; P = .02 and HR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.04-2.18]; P = .03), while patients with drainage of less than 1.5 L/d did not show an increased rate of complications compared with those receiving SOC.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
In this cohort study, clinical complications in patients with RA performing low-volume drainage without albumin infusion were associated with the daily volume drained. Based on this analysis, physicians should be cautious in patients performing drainage of 1.5 L/d or more without albumin infusion.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Paracentesis; Ascites; Cohort Studies; Retrospective Studies; Hyponatremia; Liver Cirrhosis; Albumins; Acute Kidney Injury
PubMed: 37410459
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.22048 -
Medicine Jan 2024Thoracentesis is performed by 4 methods: gravity, manual aspiration, vacuum-bottle suction, and wall suction. This literature review investigates the safety of these... (Review)
Review
Thoracentesis is performed by 4 methods: gravity, manual aspiration, vacuum-bottle suction, and wall suction. This literature review investigates the safety of these techniques and determines if there is significant difference in complication rates. A comprehensive literature search revealed 6 articles studying thoracentesis techniques and their complication rates, reviewing 20,815 thoracenteses: 80 (0.4%) by gravity, 9431 (45.3%) by manual aspiration, 3498 (16.8%) by vacuum-bottle suction, 7580 (36.4%) by wall suction and 226 (1.1%) unspecified. Of the 6 studies, 2 were smaller with 100 and 140 patients respectively. Overall, there was a 4.4% complication rate including hemothoraces, pneumothoraces, re-expansion pulmonary edema (REPE), chest discomfort, bleeding at the site, pain, and vasovagal episodes. The pneumothorax and REPE rate was 2.5%. Sub-analyzed by each method, there was a 47.5% (38/80) complication rate in the gravity group, 1.2% (115/9431) in the manual aspiration group including 0.7% pneumothorax or REPE, 8% (285/3498) in the vacuum-bottle group including 3.7% pneumothorax or REPE, 4% (309/7580) in the wall suction group all of which were either pneumothorax or REPE, and 73% (166/226) in the unspecified group most of which were vasovagal episodes. Procedure duration was less in the suction groups versus gravity drainage. The 2 smaller studies indicated that in the vacuum groups, early procedure termination rate from respiratory failure was significantly higher than non-vacuum techniques. Significant complication rate from thoracentesis by any technique is low. Suction drainage was noted to have a lower procedure time. Symptom-limited thoracentesis is safe using vacuum or wall suction even with large volumes drained. Other factors such as procedure duration, quantity of fluid removed, number of needle passes, patients' BMI, and operator technique may have more of an impact on complication rate than drainage modality. All suction modalities of drainage seem to be safe. Operator technique, attention to symptom development, amount of fluid removed, and intrapleural pressure changes may be important in predicting complication development, and therefore, may be useful in choosing which technique to employ. Specific drainage modes and their complications need to be further studied.
Topics: Humans; Thoracentesis; Pneumothorax; Thoracic Surgical Procedures; Drainage; Suction; Pulmonary Edema; Respiratory Aspiration
PubMed: 38181250
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000036850