Albumin Utilization in Adult Cardiac Surgical Patients: Retrospective

The goal of this proposed multicentre retrospective cohort study is to characterize perioperative usage patterns of crystalloids and albumin, as well as key patient outcomes, in cardiac surgical patients. This study will also address numerous other knowledge gaps in the area of perioperative blood product management and fluid administration in cardiac surgery and define a collaborative group to support future research in this field. The primary objective is to obtain granular information on if, when, and how albumin is given perioperatively to cardiac surgical patients. This includes the doses and settings in which albumin is used, the types of crystalloid solutions (balanced or unbalanced) used, and when albumin is used (for example, while on cardio-pulmonary bypass, in the ICU, or on the ward) in perioperative cardiac surgical care across institutions. This important information about the scope of albumin and crystalloid use across the country will inform the design of our future intervention and control arms in the planned definitive trial.