Economics of fluid therapy in critically ill patients:

Albumin use for fluid resuscitation in cardiac surgical patients: a survey of Canadian perioperative care providers

PURPOSE

To evaluate the perceptions and practices of Canadian cardiovascular anesthesiologists and intensivists towards intravenous albumin as a resuscitation fluid in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of cardiac anesthesiologists and intensivists involved in the care of cardiac surgical patients. The 22-item survey included seven open-ended questions and assessed practice patterns and attitudes towards albumin. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using counts and proportions. Qualitative data were analyzed to identify themes describing albumin use patterns in Canada.

RESULTS

A total of 133 respondents from seven provinces participated, with 83 (62%) using albumin perioperatively. The majority of respondents (77%) felt a low fluid balance in cardiac surgical patients was important, and that supplementing crystalloids with albumin was helpful for this objective (67%). There was poor agreement among survey respondents regarding the role of albumin for faster vasopressor weaning or intensive care discharge, and ≥ 90% did not feel albumin reduced mortality, renal injury, or coagulopathy. Nevertheless, cardiac surgical patients were identified as a distinct population where albumin may help to minimize fluid balance. There was an acknowledged paucity of formal evidence supporting possible benefits. Fewer than 10% of respondents could identify institutional or national guidelines for albumin use. A lack of evidence supporting albumin use in cardiac surgical patients, especially those at highest risk of complications, was a frequently identified concern.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of Canadian anesthesiologists and intensivists (62%) use albumin in cardiac surgical patients. There is clinical equipoise regarding its utility, and an acknowledged need for higher quality evidence to guide practice.

Buffered solutions versus 0.9% saline for resuscitation in critically ill adults and children

BACKGROUND

Fluid therapy is one of the main interventions provided for critically ill patients, although there is no general consensus regarding the type of solution. Among crystalloid solutions, 0.9% saline is the most commonly administered. Buffered solutions may offer some theoretical advantages (less metabolic acidosis, less electrolyte disturbance), but the clinical relevance of these remains unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of buffered solutions versus 0.9% saline for resuscitation in critically ill adults and children.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following databases to July 2018: CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and four trials registers. We checked references, conducted backward and forward citation searching of relevant articles, and contacted study authors to identify additional studies. We imposed no language restrictions.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with parallel or cross-over design examining buffered solutions versus intravenous 0.9% saline in a critical care setting (resuscitation or maintenance). We included studies on participants with critical illness (including trauma and burns) or undergoing emergency surgery during critical illness who required intravenous fluid therapy. We included studies of adults and children. We included studies with more than two arms if they fulfilled all of our inclusion criteria. We excluded studies performed in persons undergoing elective surgery and studies with multiple interventions in the same arm.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used Cochrane's standard methodological procedures. We assessed our intervention effects using random-effects models, but when one or two trials contributed to 75% of randomized participants, we used fixed-effect models. We reported outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

MAIN RESULTS

We included 21 RCTs (20,213 participants) and identified three ongoing studies. Three RCTs contributed 19,054 participants (94.2%). Four RCTs (402 participants) were conducted among children with severe dehydration and dengue shock syndrome. Fourteen trials reported results on mortality, and nine reported on acute renal injury. Sixteen included trials were conducted in adults, four in the paediatric population, and one trial limited neither minimum or maximum age as an inclusion criterion. Eight studies involving 19,218 participants were rated as high methodological quality (trials with overall low risk of bias according to the domains: allocation concealment, blinding of participants/assessors, incomplete outcome data, and selective reporting), and in the remaining trials, some form of bias was introduced or could not be ruled out.We found no evidence of an effect of buffered solutions on in-hospital mortality (odds ratio (OR) 0.91, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.01; 19,664 participants; 14 studies; high-certainty evidence). Based on a mortality rate of 119 per 1000, buffered solutions could reduce mortality by 21 per 1000 or could increase mortality by 1 per 1000. Similarly, we found no evidence of an effect of buffered solutions on acute renal injury (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.00; 18,701 participants; 9 studies; low-certainty evidence). Based on a rate of 121 per 1000, buffered solutions could reduce the rate of acute renal injury by 19 per 1000, or result in no difference in the rate of acute renal injury. Buffered solutions did not show an effect on organ system dysfunction (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.40 to 1.61; 266 participants; 5 studies; very low-certainty evidence). Evidence on the effects of buffered solutions on electrolyte disturbances varied: potassium (mean difference (MD) 0.09, 95% CI -0.10 to 0.27; 158 participants; 4 studies; very low-certainty evidence); chloride (MD -3.02, 95% CI -5.24 to -0.80; 351 participants; 7 studies; very low-certainty evidence); pH (MD 0.04, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.06; 200 participants; 3 studies; very low-certainty evidence); and bicarbonate (MD 2.26, 95% CI 1.25 to 3.27; 344 participants; 6 studies; very low-certainty evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We found no effect of buffered solutions on preventing in-hospital mortality compared to 0.9% saline solutions in critically ill patients. The certainty of evidence for this finding was high, indicating that further research would detect little or no difference in mortality. The effects of buffered solutions and 0.9% saline solutions on preventing acute kidney injury were similar in this setting. The certainty of evidence for this finding was low, and further research could change this conclusion. Patients treated with buffered solutions showed lower chloride levels, higher levels of bicarbonate, and higher pH. The certainty of evidence for these findings was very low. Future research should further examine patient-centred outcomes such as quality of life. The three ongoing studies once published and assessed may alter the conclusions of the review.

Recent Updates in the Pharmacological Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Systematic Review Focused on Fluid Resuscitation, Vasopressors, and Corticosteroids

OBJECTIVE

Describe recent developments in the pharmacological management of sepsis and septic shock, focusing on fluid resuscitation, vasopressors, and corticosteroids.

DATA SOURCES

A literature search limited to randomized controlled trials written in the English language reporting mortality and other clinically relevant outcomes that were published from July 1, 2016, to August 31, 2018, in patients aged ≥ 18 years. Titles and abstracts were reviewed for relevance. References for pertinent review articles were also reviewed.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

Relevant randomized controlled trials conducted in patients meeting the pre-defined inclusion criteria were considered for inclusion.

DATA SYNTHESIS

From an initial search that identified 147 studies, 14 original research studies met inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Risk of bias (ROB) was assessed using the Revised Cochrane ROB assessment tool, with most included studies having a low ROB. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: Sepsis and septic shock pose a significant burden on public health. Despite advances in our understanding of sepsis, mortality remains unacceptably high. Recent developments in the pharmacological management of septic shock have focused on determining optimal composition and dosage of fluid resuscitation, enhanced use of vasopressor therapy, and clarifying the role of corticosteroids. This systematic review will provide recommendations for application to practice focusing on recent research on these topics.

CONCLUSIONS

Although recent developments in the pharmacological management of sepsis are encouraging, clinicians must be keen to utilize patient-specific factors to guide therapy and continue to strive to address the remaining unanswered questions.

Assessing adherence to current national guidelines for appropriate albumin use at an academic medical center

Objective:

To assess adherence to current national guidelines for appropriate albumin use at an academic medical center.

Methods:

This retrospective chart review of 150 randomly selected patients prescribed and administered at least one dose of albumin was conducted in an urban academic medical center to evaluate the adherence of albumin orders to current national guidelines. Inclusion criteria consisted of discharged patients at least 18-years-old admitted to the intensive care unit or medical/surgical unit from September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016. The primary outcome was the number of patients who inappropriately received albumin based on national guidelines and FDA approved indications. Secondary outcomes included the number of patients who received the incorrect concentration or dose of albumin based on indication, as well as the cost associated with inappropriate albumin prescribing. Descriptive statistics were used to report outcomes.

Results:

There were 68 instances (45%) where albumin was prescribed inappropriately according to guideline recommendations. Of the 82 instances where albumin was used appropriately, 18 patients received an incorrect dose (22%), and 6 received the inappropriate concentration of albumin (7%). The cost for the 150 patients included in the study associated with inappropriate albumin prescribing was approximately $13,000.

Conclusions:

This study identified areas for pharmacist intervention to ensure appropriate albumin utilization, as well as proper dosing for the most frequently incorrectly dosed indications, including hepato-renal syndrome, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and paracentesis. This study also identified an unexpected indication with significant inappropriate albumin utilization, perioperative hypotension, which is an area for further intervention to monitor and decrease use.

Normal saline for intravenous fluid therapy in critically ill patients

The efficacy and safety of normal saline (NS) for fluid therapy in critically ill patients remain controversy. In this review, we summarized the evidence of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which compared NS with other solutions in critically ill patients. The results showed that when compared with 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES), NS may reduce the onset of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, there is no significant different in mortality and incidence of AKI when compared with 10% HES, albumin and buffered crystalloid solution. Therefore, it is important to prescribe intravenous fluid for patients according to their individual condition.

Impact of a Sequential Intervention on Albumin Utilization in Critical Care

OBJECTIVES

Literature generally finds no advantages in mortality risk for albumin over cheaper alternatives in many settings. Few studies have combined financial and nonfinancial strategies to reduce albumin overuse. We evaluated the effect of a sequential multifaceted intervention on decreasing albumin use in ICU and explore the effects of different strategies.

DESIGN

Prospective prepost cohort study.

SETTING

Eight ICUs at two hospitals in an academic healthcare system.

PATIENTS

Adult patients admitted to study ICUs from September 2011 to August 2014 (n = 22,004).

INTERVENTIONS

Over 2 years, providers in study ICUs participated in an intervention to reduce albumin use involving monthly feedback and explicit financial incentives in the first year and internal guidelines and order process changes in the second year.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Outcomes measured were albumin orders per ICU admission, direct albumin costs, and mortality. Mean (SD) utilization decreased 37% from 2.7 orders (6.8) per admission during the baseline to 1.7 orders (4.6) during the intervention (p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that the intervention was independently associated with 0.9 fewer orders per admission, a 42% relative decrease. This adjusted effect consisted of an 18% reduction in the probability of using any albumin (p < 0.001) and a 29% reduction in the number of orders per admission among patients receiving any (p < 0.001). Secondary analysis revealed that probability reductions were concurrent with internal guidelines and order process modification while reductions in quantity occurred largely during the financial incentives and feedback period. Estimated cost savings totaled $2.5M during the 2-year intervention. There was no significant difference in ICU or hospital mortality between baseline and intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

A sequential intervention achieved significant reductions in ICU albumin use and cost savings without changes in patient outcomes, supporting the combination of financial and nonfinancial strategies to align providers with evidence-based practices.

Albumin versus other fluids for fluid resuscitation in patients with sepsis: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Early fluid resuscitation is vital to patients with sepsis. However, the choice of fluid has been a hot topic of discussion. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the use of albumin-containing fluids for resuscitation in patients with sepsis was associated with a decreased mortality rate.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane library for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to March 2014. The selection of eligible studies, assessment of methodological quality, and extraction of all relevant data were conducted by two authors independently.

RESULTS

In total, 15 RCTs were eligible for analysis. After pooling the data, we found there was no significant effect of albumin-containing fluids on mortality in patients with sepsis of any severity (RR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.87, 1.02 and RD: -0.01, 95% CI: -0.03, 0.01). The results were robust to subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses and trial sequential analyses.

CONCLUSION

The present meta-analysis did not demonstrate significant advantage of using albumin-containing fluids for resuscitation in patients with sepsis of any severity. Given the cost-effectiveness of using albumin, crystalloids should be the first choice for fluid resuscitation in septic patients.