USE AND MISUSE OF ALBUMIN INFUSIONS IN NEONATAL CARE

During the neonatal period, albumin infusions are administered in resp onse to a variety of clinical scenarios. Review of currently available literature, however, demonstrates that crystalloid rather than colloi d infusions should be used both to treat hypovolaemic hypotension and as the replacement fluid in a dilutional exchange. The role of an albu min infusion in ''treating'' metabolic acidosis needs further evaluati on, but the practice of giving albumin to correct ''asymptomatic'' hyp oalbuminaemia or at resuscitation should be discouraged.Conclusion The neonatologist would be well advised, when reaching for an albumin inf usion, to reflect that there may be a safer, certainly cheaper and equ ally effective alternative.