A COMPARISON OF 4.5-PERCENT HUMAN ALBUMIN SOLUTION AND HAEMACCEL IN NEONATES UNDERGOING MAJOR SURGERY

In a randomized blinded study we compared two colloid solutions in 30 neonates undergoing major surgery. Fifteen neonates received 4.5% Huma n albumin solution (HAS) (mean volume 25.6 ml . kg(-1), SD 9.5) and th e others received Haemaccel (Hoechst) (24.9 ml . kg(-1), SD 10). Pre a nd postoperative plasma albumin and haemoglobin concentrations and pla sma colloid osmotic pressures (COP) were compared. In the group given Haemaccel there was an appreciable and statistically significant decre ase in the mean plasma albumin concentration from 34.27 to 28.27 g . l (-1) (mean difference 6, CI 3.38 to 8.62) and the mean COP decreased s ignificantly from 22.2 to 19.9 mmHg (mean difference 2.3, CI 0.3 to 4. 5). In the HAS group there was no significant change in either the pla sma albumin concentration or COP. There was a small but significant de crease in the mean haemoglobin concentration from 15.92 to 14.35 g . d l(-1) (mean difference 1.56, CI 0.57 to 2.55) after HAS. We conclude t hat HAS is the superior colloid for volume replacement in neonates und ergoing surgery.