Current attitudes to burns resuscitation in the UK

In recent years, much discussion has occurred regarding the efficacy and sa fety of using albumin as part of burns resuscitation regimes. The discussio n was fuelled in 1998 by the publication of the findings of the Cochrane In juries Group Albumin Reviewers, Br Med J 1998; 317: 235-240. The current us age of human albumin solutions as part of the burn resuscitation regimes of burns units in the UK was assessed by telephone questionnaire by contactin g medical staff from all the burns units in the UK that admit burn patients for resuscitation. Knowledge of the albumin controversy, details of their current resuscitation regimes and recent or planned changes were included i n the questionnaire, Most individuals were aware of the albumin controversy . A total of eight units had made changes to their resuscitation regimes si nce July 1998. although five were still using albumin. Four more were consi dering making changes. while 13 units that had been using albumin prior to the controversy had made no changes at all. Only three units had stopped us ing albumin-based colloid altogether. Only one unit was not using albumin p rior to the controversy. The implications of these results and possible way s forward are discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.