A comparison of albumin, polygeline and crystalloid priming solutions for cardiopulmonary bypass in patients having coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

This study was designed to assess the effect of different prime solution compositions on a patient's fluid balance, transfusion requirements, renal function and haemodynamic stability over the first 24 hours postbypass. Ninety-three patients presenting for first-time coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery were randomly allocated to receive one of three prime solutions for the CPB pump: albumin (4.6%) + Plasmalyte (Group A, n = 32), polygeline (Hemaccel) + Plasmalyte (Group P, n = 29), or crystalloid (Plasmalyte) alone (Group C, n = 32). Patients, anaesthetists, surgeons and intensive care unit (ICU) staff were all blinded as to the solution type. The groups were demographically and haemodynamically similar. There were no differences between the groups with respect to white cell or platelet counts during the study. There was a significant difference in haemoglobin levels between the groups on weaning from CPB and on arrival in the ICU (Group C > Groups P and A, p < 0.001 for both times). There was no difference in blood transfusion requirements between any of the groups. During CPB, Group C required significantly more crystalloid than the other groups (p < 0.001). Urine output was significantly higher in Group C compared with Groups P and A at all time periods up to and including ICU 12 hours (p < 0.05). The use of frusemide was significantly higher in the ICU in Groups P and A (p < 0.01). There was a net gain of 3132 +/- 412 ml in Group C in 24 hour fluid balance, which was significantly higher than Group A (2166 +/- 223 ml, p = 0.04). Our results show that, in this patient population, there is no advantage in using a colloid-based prime solution over a purely crystalloid solution from a haemotologic or haemodynamic point of view for the first 24 hours after CPB. There appears to be an increase in extracellular fluid (ECF) retention in Group C, but this caused no related problems in the study period. On the other hand, diuretics (frusemide) needed to be given significantly less often in these patients to offset oliguria.