Open AccessAlbumin administration prevents the onset of pressure ulcers in intensive care unit patients
Author(s) -
Serra Raffaele,
Grande Raffaele,
Buffone Gianluca,
Gallelli Luca,
Caroleo Santo,
Tropea Francesco,
Amantea Bruno,
de Franciscis Stefano
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international wound journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1742-481X
pISSN - 1742-4801
DOI - 10.1111/iwj.12131
Subject(s) - medicine , albumin , intensive care unit , group b , group a , serum albumin , gastroenterology , intensive care , critically ill , anesthesia , surgery , intensive care medicine
Pressure ulcers ( PU s) are a common problem in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care units ( ICU s) and they account for more than 70% of patients with low serum albumin at admission. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of intravenous administration of albumin in patients with low serum albumin < 3·3 g/dl. In a 1‐year period, a total of 73 patients were admitted to the ICU (males 45, 61·64% and females 28, 38·36%); of these, 21 patients were admitted with hypoalbuminaemia (serum albumin < 3·3 g/dl) and randomised into two groups: 11 patients were treated with 25 g intravenous albumin for the first 3 days within the first week of ICU stay (group A) and 10 patients did not receive albumin (group B). Three patients (27·27%) showed the onset of PU s in group A, whereas seven patients (70%) showed the onset of PU s within the first 7 days of stay in group B. Moreover, ulcers of group B were more severe than those of group A. This study shows that intravenous administration of albumin reduces the onset of PU s in patients admitted to the ICU and in some cases it also reduces the risk of progression to advanced stages of PU s.