Balanced crystalloids versus saline for critically ill patients (BEST-Living): a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The effect of balanced crystalloids compared with that of saline in critically ill patients overall and in specific subgroups is unclear. We aimed to assess whether use of balanced solutions, compared with 0·9% sodium chloride (saline), decreased in-hospital mortality in adult patients in intensive care units (ICUs). METHODS: For this systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL databases from inception until March 1, 2022 (updated Sept 1, 2023) for individually randomised and cluster-randomised trials comparing balanced solutions with saline for adult patients in the ICU. Eligible trials were those that allocated patients to receive balanced solutions or saline for fluid resuscitation and maintenance fluids, or for maintenance fluids only; and administered the allocated fluid throughout ICU admission or, for trials using landmark mortality as their primary outcome, until the timepoint at which mortality was assessed (if ≥28 days). Authors of eligible trials were contacted to request individual patient data. Data obtained from eligible trials were merged, checked for accuracy, and centrally analysed by use of Bayesian regression models. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Prespecified subgroups included patients with traumatic brain injury. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022299282). FINDINGS: Our search identified 5219 records, yielding six eligible randomised controlled trials. Data obtained for 34 685 participants from the six trials, 17 407 assigned to receive balanced crystalloids and 17 278 to receive saline, were included in the analysis. The mean age of participants was 58·8 years (SD 17·5). Of 34 653 participants with available data, 14 579 (42·1%) were female and 20 074 (57·9%) were male. Among patients who provided consent to report in-hospital mortality, 2907 (16·8%) of 17 313 assigned balanced solutions and 2975 (17·3%) of 17 166 assigned saline died in hospital (odds ratio [OR] 0·962 [95% CrI 0·909 to 1·019], absolute difference -0·4 percentage points [-1·5 to 0·2]). The posterior probability that balanced solutions reduced mortality was 0·895. In patients with traumatic brain injury, 191 (19·1%) of 999 assigned balanced and 141 (14·7%) of 962 assigned saline died (OR 1·424 [1·100 to 1·818], absolute difference 3·2 percentage points [0·7 to 8·7]). The probability that balanced solutions increased mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury was 0·975. In an independent risk of bias assessment, two trials were deemed to be at low risk of bias and four at high risk of bias. INTERPRETATION: The probability that using balanced solutions in the ICU reduces in-hospital mortality is high, although the certainty of the evidence was moderate and the absolute risk reduction was small. In patients with traumatic brain injury, using balanced solutions was associated with increased in-hospital mortality. FUNDING: HCor (Brazil) and The George Institute for Global Health (Australia).

Sodium bicarbonate Ringer's solution for hemorrhagic shock: A meta-analysis comparing crystalloid solutions.

BACKGROUND: The choice of fluid resuscitation in Traumatic Hemorrhagic shock (THS) remains a critical aspect of patient management. Bicarbonated Ringers solution (BRS) has shown promise due to its composition resembling human Extracellular Fluid and its potential benefits on hemodynamics. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy, mortality rates, hemodynamic effects, and adverse outcomes of Sodium Bicarbonate Ringer's Solution in the treatment of hemorrhagic shock, as compared to other relevant interventions. METHOD: A comprehensive examination of the available literature was performed by conducting systematic searches in prominent databases such as Cochrane, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PubMed. The process employed predefined criteria to extract relevant data and evaluate the quality of the studies. The outcome measures considered encompassed survival rates, mortality, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and adverse events. RESULT: The meta-analysis of three studies showed that compared to the other crystalloids, the use of BRS had an odds ratio for survival of 1.86 (95% CI: 0.94, 3.71; p = 0.08; I2 = 0%), an odds ratio for total adverse events of 0.14 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.35; p < 0.0001; I2 = 22%), a mean difference in heart rate of -4.49 (95% CI: -7.55, -1.44; p = 0.004; I2 = 13%), and a mean difference in mean arterial pressure of 2.31 (95% CI: -0.85, 5.47; p = 0.15; I2 = 66%). CONCLUSION: BRS demonstrated a significant reduction in complications, including adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), Multiple Organ Dysfunction (MODS), and Total Adverse Effects, when compared to other solutions in the treatment of THS. Additionally, THS patients resuscitated with BRS experienced a notable decrease in heart rate. The findings suggest BRS may contribute to organ stability and potential survival improvement due to its similarity to human Extracellular Fluid and minimal impact on the liver.

Usage of mineralocorticoids and isotonic crystalloids in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients in the United States.

BACKGROUND: The usage rates of mineralocorticoids (fludrocortisone) to treat hyponatremia and isotonic crystalloids (saline and balanced crystalloids) to maintain intravascular volume in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients across the United States are unknown. METHODS: We surveyed National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) StrokeNet sites in 2023, which are mostly large, tertiary, academic centers, and analyzed subarachnoid hemorrhage encounters from 2010 to 2020 in the Premier Healthcare Database that is representative of all types of hospitals and captures about 20 % of all acute inpatient care in the United States. RESULTS: Although mineralocorticoids are used by 70 % of the NINDS StrokeNet sites, it is used in less than 20 % of the aSAH encounters in the Premier Database. Although saline is ubiquitously used, balanced crystalloids are increasingly used for fluid therapy in aSAH patients. Its use in the NINDS StrokeNet sites and the Premier Healthcare Database is 41 and 45 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The use of mineralocorticoids remains low, and balanced crystalloids are increasingly used as fluid therapy in aSAH patients. The effectiveness of mineralocorticoids and balanced crystalloids in improving outcomes for aSAH patients must be rigorously tested in randomized clinical trials.

Physical and Chemical Compatibility of Medications Commonly Used in Critically Ill Patients With Balanced Crystalloids: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate available evidence of physical and/or chemical compatibility of commonly used medications in critically ill patients with balanced crystalloids. DATA SOURCES: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were queried from inception to September 2022. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. English-language studies reporting physical and/or chemical compatibility data between 50 selected medications and balanced crystalloids were included. A previously designed tool to assess risk of bias was adapted for use. DATA SYNTHESIS: Twenty-nine studies encompassing 39 (78%) medications and 188 unique combinations with balanced crystalloids were included. Combinations included 35 (70%) medications with lactated Ringer's, 26 (52%) medications with Plasma-Lyte, 10 (20%) medications with Normosol, and one (2%) medication with Isolyte. Studies commonly evaluated physical and chemical compatibility (55.2%). More medications were evaluated via Y-site than admixture. Incompatibilities were identified in 18% of combinations comprising 13 individual drugs. RELEVANCE TO PATIENT CARE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE: This systematic review evaluates the compatibility of select critical care medications with balanced crystalloid solutions. Results may be used as a tool to guide clinicians on balanced crystalloid compatibility, potentially increasing ubiquitous use and reducing patient exposure to normal saline. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Data are limited regarding chemical/physical compatibility of commonly used medications in critically ill patients with balanced crystalloids. Additional compatibility studies are warranted, particularly methodologically rigorous studies assessing Plasma-Lyte, Normosol, and Isolyte. Of the evaluated medications, there was a low frequency of incompatibilities with balanced crystalloids.

Balanced crystalloids (RInger's lactate) versus normal Saline in adults with diabetic Ketoacidosis in the Emergency Department (BRISK-ED): a pilot randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Current diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) treatment guidelines recommend using normal saline (NS); however, NS may delay DKA resolution by causing more hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis compared with balanced crystalloids. This study's objective was to determine the feasibility of a future multicentred randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing intravenous Ringer's lactate (RL) with NS in managing ED patients with DKA. METHODS: We conducted a parallel-arm, triple-blind, pilot RCT of adults (≥18 years) with DKA at a Canadian academic tertiary care ED. The primary feasibility outcome was recruitment rate (target ≥41.3% of eligible participants over the 1-year study period); the primary efficacy outcome was time elapsed from ED presentation to DKA resolution. The superiority margin for a clinically significant difference was chosen to be a 40% time reduction to DKA resolution. We also assessed the need to break allocation concealment and loss to follow-up. Patients with clinical suspicion for DKA were screened for inclusion and enrolled patients were randomised 1:1 to receive RL or NS. Patients, clinicians and outcome assessors were blinded to allocation. RESULTS: We enrolled 52 (25 RL, 27 NS) of 60 eligible patients (86.7%), exceeding our target recruitment rate. There were more patients in the NS group with type 1 diabetes, and more patients in the RL group had an admission co-diagnosis in addition to DKA. For the 44 participants with confirmed laboratory evidence of resolution, median (IQR) time to DKA resolution for RL versus NS was 15.7 (10.4-18.8) and 12.7 (7.9-19.2) hours, respectively. There were no cases where blinding was broken, and there was no loss to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot trial demonstrated our protocol's feasibility by exceeding our target recruitment rate. Our results may be used to inform future multicentre trials to compare the safety and efficacy of RL and NS in managing DKA in the ED. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04926740.

Cost-effectiveness of intravenous resuscitation fluids in sepsis patients: a patient-level data analysis in Jordan.

AIM: Albumin role as fluid resuscitation in sepsis remains understudied in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of intravenous (IV) Albumin compared to Crystalloids in sepsis patients using patient-level data in Jordan. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of sepsis patients aged 18 or older admitted to intensive care units (ICU) at two major tertiary hospitals during the period 2018-2019. Patients information, type of IV fluid, and clinical outcomes were retrieved from medical records, and charges were retrieved from the billing system. A 90-day partitioned survival model with two health states (alive and dead) was constructed to estimate the survival of sepsis patients receiving either Albumin or Crystalloids as IV fluids for resuscitation. Overall survival was predicted by fitting a Weibull model on the patient-level data from the current study. To further validate the results, and to support the assessment of uncertainty, time-dependent transition probabilities of death at each cycle were estimated and used to construct a state-transition patient-level simulation model with 10,000 microsimulation trials. Adopting the healthcare system perspective, incremental cost-effectiveness ratios(ICERs) of Albumin versus Crystalloids were calculated in terms of the probability to be discharged alive from the ICU. Uncertainty was explored using probabilistic sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: In the partitioned survival model, Albumin was associated with an incremental cost of $1,007 per incremental1% in the probability of being discharged alive from the ICU. In the state-transition patient-level simulation model, ICER was $1,268 per incremental 1% in the probability of being discharged alive. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that Albumin was favored at thresholds >$800 per incremental 1%in the probability of being discharged alive from the ICU. CONCLUSION: IV Albumin use in sepsis patients might not be cost-effective from the healthcare perspective of Jordan. This has important implications for policymakers to readdress Albumin prescribing practice in sepsis patients.

Sepsis is a life-threatening complication of infection, which usually requires resuscitation with intravenous fluids. Still, no conclusive evidence is available about the best fluid resuscitation to be used in sepsis patients especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study compared the costs and effectiveness of intravenous Albumin versus Crystalloids in sepsis patients. Findings from this study showed that resuscitation with Albumin is much more expensive compared to resuscitation with Crystalloids with no significant difference in mortality but with prolonged length of stay in the hospital and the intensive care unit. Decision makers are advised to change Albumin prescribing practices in a way that mitigates the associated clinical and financial burdens without compromising quality of care or resuscitate with Crystalloids.

Changes in respiratory mechanics in response to crystalloid infusions in extremely premature infants.

Extremely premature infants are at a higher risk of developing respiratory distress syndrome and circulatory impairments in the first few weeks of life. Administration of normal saline boluses to manage hypotension is a common practice in preterm infants. As a crystalloid, a substantial proportion might leak into the interstitium; most consequently the lungs in the preterm cohorts, putatively affecting ventilation. We downloaded and analyzed ventilator mechanics data in infants managed by conventional mechanical ventilation and administered normal saline bolus for clinical reasons. Data were downloaded for 30 min prebolus, 60 min during the bolus followed by 30 min postbolus. Sixteen infants (mean gestational age 25.2 ± 1 wk and birth weight 620 ± 60 g) were administered 10 mL/kg normal saline over 60 min. The most common clinical indication for saline was hypotension. No significant increase was noted in mean blood pressure after the saline bolus. A significant reduction in pulmonary compliance (mL/cmH2O/kg) was noted (0.43 ± 0.07 vs. 0.38 ± 0.07 vs. 0.33 ± 0.07, P = 0.003, ANOVA). This was accompanied by an elevation in the required peak inspiratory pressure to deliver set volume-guarantee (19 ± 2 vs. 22 ± 2 vs. 22 ± 3 mmHg, P < 0.0001, ANOVA), resulting in a higher respiratory severity score. Normal saline infusion therapy was associated with adverse pulmonary mechanics. Relevant pathophysiologic mechanisms might include translocation of fluid across pulmonary capillaries affected by low vascular tone and heightened permeability in extremes of prematurity, back-pressure effects from raised left atrial volume due to immature left-ventricular myocardium; complemented by the effect of cytokine release from positive pressure ventilation.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Administration of saline boluses is common in premature infants although hypovolemia is an uncommon underlying cause of hypotension. This crystalloid can redistribute into pulmonary interstitial space. In the presence of an immature myocardium and diastolic dysfunction, excess fluid can also be "edemagenic." This study on extremely premature infants (25 wk gestation) noted adverse influence on respiratory physiology after saline infusion. Clinicians need to choose judiciously and reconsider routine use of saline boluses in premature infants.

Damage control resuscitation in adult trauma patients: What you need to know.

ABSTRACT: Death after injury is a worldwide epidemic. Hemorrhage as a cause of death represents the leading potentially preventable condition. Based on hard-won experience from the recent wars, and two decades of military and civilian research, damage-control resuscitation (DCR) is now widely used. This article will briefly describe the history of blood transfusion, outline "why we do DCR," and then discuss "how we do DCR." Modern DCR occurs both prehospital and in the hospital and has several main tenants. Currently, DCR focuses on the liberal use of temporary hemorrhage-control adjuncts, early use of whole blood or balanced blood product-based transfusions, mitigation of crystalloid use, hypotensive resuscitation to promote hemostasis and decrease coagulopathy, and correction of ongoing metabolic derangements, followed by rapid definitive hemorrhage control. These concepts have evolved from a series of lessons learned over time from both civilian and military trauma casualties, and DCR is now the standard of care in trauma resuscitation.

Intraoperative use of balanced crystalloids versus 0.9% saline: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled studies.

BACKGROUND: The evidence regarding optimal crystalloid use in the perioperative period remains unclear. As the primary aim of this study, we sought to summarise the data from RCTs examining whether use of balanced crystalloids compared with 0.9% saline (saline) leads to differences in patient-important outcomes. METHODS: We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane library, and Clinicaltrials.gov, from inception until December 15, 2022, and included RCTs that intraoperatively randomised adult participants to receive either balanced fluids or saline. We pooled data using a random-effects model and present risk ratios (RRs) or mean differences (MDs), along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We assessed individual study risk of bias using the modified Cochrane tool, and certainty of evidence using GRADE. RESULTS: Of 5959 citations, we included 38 RCTs (n=3776 patients). Pooled analysis showed that intraoperative use of balanced fluids compared with saline had an uncertain effect on postoperative mortality analysed at the longest point of follow-up (RR 1.51, 95% CI: 0.42-5.36) and postoperative need for renal replacement therapy (RR 0.95, 95% CI: 0.56-1.59), both very low certainty. Furthermore, use of balanced crystalloids probably leads to a higher postoperative serum pH (MD 0.05, 95% CI: 0.04-0.06), moderate certainty. CONCLUSIONS: Use of balanced crystalloids, compared with saline, in the perioperative setting has an uncertain effect on mortality and need for renal replacement therapy but probably improves postoperative acid-base status. Further research is needed to determine whether balanced crystalloid use affects patient-important outcomes. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: CRD42022367593.

New Insights into the Fluid Management in Patients with Septic Shock.

The importance of fluid resuscitation therapy during the early stages of sepsis management is a well-established principle. Current Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) guidelines recommend the early administration of intravenous crystalloid fluids for sepsis-related hypotension or hyperlactatemia due to tissue hypoperfusion, within the first 3 h of resuscitation and suggest using balanced solutions (BSs) instead of normal saline (NS) for the management of patients with sepsis or septic shock. Studies comparing BS versus NS administration in septic patients have demonstrated that BSs are associated with better outcomes including decreased mortality. After initial resuscitation, fluid administration has to be judicious in order to avoid fluid overload, which has been associated with increased mortality, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and worsening of acute kidney injury. The "one size fits all" approach may be "convenient" but it should be avoided. Personalized fluid management, based on patient-specific hemodynamic indices, provides the foundations for better patient outcomes in the future. Although there is a consensus on the need for adequate fluid therapy in sepsis, the type, the amount of administered fluids, and the ideal fluid resuscitation strategy remain elusive. Well-designed large randomized controlled trials are certainly needed to compare fluid choices specifically in the septic patient, as there is currently limited evidence of low quality. This review aims to summarize the physiologic principles and current scientific evidence regarding fluid management in patients with sepsis, as well as to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest data on the optimal fluid administration strategy in sepsis.

Restoring microcirculatory perfusion in a preclinical model of severe hemorrhagic shock: The role of microcirculatory function.

BACKGROUND: No reflow in capillaries (no reflow) is the lack of tissue perfusion that occurs once central hemodynamics are restored. This prevents oxygen transfer and debt repayment to vital tissues after shock resuscitation. Since metabolic swelling of cells and tissues can cause no reflow, it is a target for study in shock. We hypothesize no reflow secondary to metabolic cell swelling causes the problem not addressed by current strategies that increase central hemodynamics alone. METHODS: Anesthetized swine were bled until plasma lactate reached 7.5 mM to 9 mM. Intravenous low volume resuscitation solutions were administered (6.8 mL/kg over 5 minutes) consisting of; (1) lactated Ringer (LR), (2) autologous whole blood, (3) high-dose vitamin C (200 mg/kg), or (4) 10% PEG-20k, a polymer-based cell impermeant that corrects metabolic cell swelling. Outcomes were macrohemodynamics (MAP), plasma lactate, capillary flow in the gut and tongue mucosa using orthogonal polarization spectral imaging (OPSI), and survival to 4 hours. RESULTS: All PEG-20k resuscitated swine survived 240 minutes with MAP above 60 mm Hg compared with 50% and 0% of the whole blood and LR groups, respectively. The vitamin C group died at just over 2 hours with MAPs below 40 and high lactate. The LR swine only survived 30 minutes and died with low MAP and high lactate. Capillary flow positively correlated ( p < 0.05) with survival and MAP. Sublingual OPSI correlated with intestinal OPSI and OPSI was validated with a histological technique. DISCUSSION: Targeting micro-hemodynamics in resuscitation may be more important than macrohemodynamics. Fixing both is optimal. Sublingual OPSI is clinically achievable to assess micro-hemodynamic status. Targeting tissue cell swelling that occurs during ATP depletion in shock using optimized osmotically active cell impermeants in crystalloid low volume resuscitation solutions improves perfusion in shocked tissues, which leverages a primary mechanism of injury.

Different Concentrations of Albumin Versus Crystalloid in Patients with Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

OBJECTIVE: The best type of resuscitation fluids for sepsis and septic shock patients remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different concentrations of albumin on reducing the mortality rate of theses patients by meta-analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were used for screening the relevant studies. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were eligible if they compared the effects of albumin with crystalloid on mortality in patients with sepsis and septic shock. Data were examined and extracted by two reviewers independently. Any disagreements were resolved by consensus with or without the help from a third reviewer. Data including mortality, sample size of the patients, and resuscitation endpoints were extracted. Meta-analysis was carried based on the corresponding odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Eight studies with a total of 5124 septic patients and 3482 septic shock patients were included in this study. Compared with crystalloid, the use of albumin may represent a trend toward reduced the 90-day mortality of septic patients (OR 0.91 [0.80, 1.02]; P = .11) and significantly improved the outcome of septic shock patients (OR 0.85 [0.74, 0.99]; P = .04). Further analysis showed a potentially beneficial role of both 4% to 5% and 20% albumin on reducing the mortality of septic patients. The use of 20% albumin significantly decreased the 90-day mortality of septic shock patients (OR 0.81 [0.67, 0.98]; P = .03), which was better than 4% to 5% albumin and crystalloid. CONCLUSIONS: Albumin treatment, particularly 20% albumin, significantly reduced the 90-day mortality in septic shock patients. Both 4% to 5% and 20% of albumin may work better than crystalloid in improving the survival rate of patients with sepsis, but more relative RCTs are required for validation.

Balanced crystalloid solutions versus normal saline in intensive care units: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous fluid therapy is important for pediatric and adult patients in intensive care units (ICUs). However, medical professionals continue to struggle to determine the most appropriate fluids to obtain the best possible outcomes for each patient. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a meta-analysis involving cohort studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the influence of balanced crystalloid solutions and normal saline among patients in ICUs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Studies that compared balanced crystalloid solutions and saline in ICU patients from databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched up to July 25, 2022. The primary outcomes were mortality and renal-related outcomes, which included major adverse kidney events within 30 days (MAKE30), acute kidney injury (AKI), new receipt of renal replacement therapy (RRT), maximum creatinine increasing, maximum creatinine level, and final creatinine level ≥ 200% of baseline. Service utilization including length of hospital stay, ICU stay, ICU-free days and ventilator-free days were also reported. RESULTS: A total of 13 studies (10 RCTs and 3 cohort studies) involving 38,798 patients in ICUs met the selection criteria. Our analysis revealed that each subgroup had no significant difference in mortality outcomes among ICU patients between balanced crystalloid solutions and normal saline. A significant difference was detected between the adult groups (odds ratio [OR], 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], [0.86, 1.00]; p = 0.04) indicating that the AKI in the balanced crystalloid solutions group was lower than that in the normal saline group. Other renal-related outcomes, such as MAKE30, RRT, maximum creatinine increasing, maximum creatinine level, and final creatinine level ≥ 200% of baseline showed no significant difference between the two groups. Regarding secondary outcomes, the balanced crystalloid solution group had a longer ICU stay time (WMD, 0.02; 95% CI, [0.01, 0.03]; p = 0.0004 and I2 = 0%; p = 0.96) than the normal saline group among adult patients. Furthermore, children treated with balanced crystalloid solution had a shorter hospital stay time (WMD, - 1.10; 95% CI, [- 2.10, - 0.10]; p = 0.03 and I2 = 17%; p = 0.30) than those treated with saline. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with saline, balanced crystalloid solutions could not reduce the risk of mortality and renal-related outcomes, including MAKE30, RRT, maximum creatinine increasing, maximum creatinine level, and final creatinine level ≥ 200% of baseline, but the solutions may reduce total AKI incidence among adult patients in ICUs. For service utilization outcomes, balanced crystalloid solutions were associated with a longer length of ICU stay in the adult group and shorter length of hospital stay in the pediatric group.

Retrospective analysis of the use of canine-specific albumin in 125 critically ill dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical use of canine-specific albumin (CSA) in critically ill dogs, report adverse events, and evaluate measurable clinical effects of CSA administration. DESIGN: Retrospective case series from 2019 to 2020. SETTING: Large, urban, private-practice referral and emergency center. ANIMALS: Consecutive sample of 125 client-owned dogs administered CSA transfusions. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The conditions most commonly associated with the use of CSA were surgical (32/125) and nonsurgical (20/125) gastrointestinal disease. Both serum albumin and total plasma protein concentrations were significantly increased posttransfusion (P < 0.001), and 16% albumin transfusions produced the greatest magnitude increase in serum albumin (P = 0.0015). Concurrent crystalloid administration did not affect change in albumin. While there was no significant improvement in blood pressure seen in those patients that received albumin, a significant improvement in shock index was identified (P = 0.02). Adverse events were uncommon; however, 8 critically ill dogs died during CSA administration. CONCLUSIONS: CSA appears to be a relatively safe alternative to synthetic colloids and complementary to crystalloids in critically ill patients. More concentrated solutions may be more effective in raising serum albumin concentration. Further investigation into the indications for and efficacy of CSA will continue to improve our knowledge of this blood product.

Normal saline versus balanced crystalloids in patients with prerenal acute kidney injury and pre-existing chronic kidney disease.

INTRODUCTION: Normal saline (N/S) and Ringer's-Lactate (L/R), are administered in everyday clinical practice. Despite that, N/S increases the risk of sodium overload and hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. In contrast, L/R has lower sodium content, significantly less chloride and contains lactates. In this study we compare the efficacy of L/R versus N/S administration in patients with prerenal acute kidney injury (AKI) and pre-established chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: In this prospective open-label study we included patients with prerenal AKI and previously known CKD stage III-V without need for dialysis. Patients with other forms of AKI, hypervolemia or hyperkalemia were excluded. Patients received either N/S or L/R intravenously at a dose of 20 ml/kg body-weight/day. We studied kidney function at discharge and at 30 days, duration of hospitalization, acid-base balance and the need for dialysis. RESULTS: We studied 38 patients and 20 were treated with N/S. Kidney function improvement during hospitalization and at 30 days after discharge, was similar between the two groups. Duration of hospitalization was also similar. Anion-gap improvement as expressed with Δanion-gap between discharge and admission day was higher in those patients that received L/R in comparison to those that received N/S and pH increase (ΔpH) was slightly higher in the L/R group. No patient required dialysis. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of L/R or N/S to patients with prerenal AKI and pre-established CKD had no significant difference in short or long term kidney function but L/R showed a better profile in acid-base balance improvement and Cl- overload in comparison to N/S.

Balanced resuscitation: application to the paediatric trauma population.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Trauma is the leading cause of death in children over 5 years old. Early mortality is associated with trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC), with balanced resuscitation potentially mitigating the effects of TIC. We review TIC, balanced resuscitation and the best evidence for crystalloid fluid versus early blood products, massive transfusion protocol (MTP) and the optimal ratio for blood products. RECENT FINDINGS: Crystalloid fluids have been associated with adverse events in paediatric trauma patients. However, the best way to implement early blood products remains unclear; MTP has only shown improved time to blood products without clear clinical improvement. The indications to start blood products are also currently under investigation with several scoring systems and clinical indications being studied. Current studies on the blood product ratio suggest a 1 : 1 ratio for plasma:pRBC is likely ideal, but prospective studies are needed to further support its use. SUMMARY: Balanced resuscitation strategies of minimal crystalloid use and early administration of blood products are associated with improved morbidity in paediatric trauma patients but unclear mortality benefit. Current evidence suggests that the utilization of MTPs with 1 : 1 plasma:pRBC ratio may improve morbidity, but more research is needed.