Comparison of the Hemodynamic and Temperature Effects of a 500-mL Bolus of 4% Albumin at Room Versus Body Temperature in Cardiac Surgery Patients

OBJECTIVE: To compare the hemodynamic effect of room temperature (cold) 4% albumin fluid bolus therapy (FBT) with body temperature (warm) albumin FBT.

DESIGN: Prospective, before-after trial.

SETTING: A tertiary intensive care unit (ICU).

PARTICIPANTS: Sixty ventilated, post-cardiac surgery patients prescribed with 4% albumin FBT.

INTERVENTION: Cold or warm 4% albumin 500 ml FBT.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We recorded hemodynamic parameters before and for 30 minutes after FBT. Cardiac index (CI) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) responses were defined by a CI increase >15% and a MAP increase >10%, respectively. Immediately after FBT, median [interquartile range] core temperature changed by -0.3 [-0.4; -0.3] °C with cold albumin vs. 0.0 [0.0; 0.1]°C with warm albumin (P<0.001). The median CI increase was 0.3 [0.0; 0.5] L/min/m2 with 14 CI-responders (47%) in both groups (P>0.99). The median immediate MAP increase was 9 [3; 15] mmHg with cold albumin vs. 11 [5; 13] mmHg with warm albumin (P=0.79), with a MAP-response in 16 vs. 17 patients (P=0.99). There was an interaction between group and time for MAP (P=0.002), mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) (P=0.002) and core temperature (P<0.001). In the cold albumin group, after the initial response, MAP and mean PAP decreased more slowly than with warm albumin and, after the initial fall, core temperature increased toward baseline.

CONCLUSION: In postoperative cardiac surgery patients, warm albumin FBT prevents the decrease in core temperature and, after an initial similar increase, is associated with a faster return of MAP and mean PAP toward baseline.