Evaluation of efficacy and safety of perioperative albumin administration in major non-cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

INTRODUCTION: Studies suggested that restrictive fluid therapy during major surgery could be associated with better post-operative outcomes. The albumin uses in the perioperative period has been the subject of numerous studies with a still controversial efficacy and safety profile. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of perioperative albumin use during major non-cardiac surgery. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: This study was registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022353278). We performed an electronic search of the relevant literature from 2000 until 2023. The primary endpoint was the incidence of moderate postoperative complications (defined by a Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥2). Secondary endpoints were intraoperative fluid balance, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative wound infection and acute kidney injury (AKI). EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: We identified four relevant studies involving 426 patients (213 patients in the albumin group versus 213 patients in the control group). The meta-analysis did not reveal any significant difference between both group regarding the incidence of postoperative moderate complications even after subgroup analyses based on intraoperative or postoperative albumin administration (OR=1.23, 95% CI 0.73, 2.08, P=0.44). No difference was found for intraoperative fluid balance (MD=-190.83, 95% CI -408.67, 27.02, P=0.09), intraoperative blood loss (MD=-27.54, 95% CI -225.55, 170.48, P=0.79) and postoperative wound infection (OR=1.91, 95% CI 0.98, 3.73, P=0.06). Moreover, albumin administration was not associated with a significant increase of AKI incidence (OR=2.02, 95% CI 0.90, 4.53, P=0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative use of albumin during major non-cardiac surgery did not result in an increased incidence of moderate postoperative complications.