A weary pathology resident was called one evening and was requested to calculate the dose of 25% human albumin for a 100 kilogram patient with ascites scheduled for a therapeutic tap. Her advice was to dose 1 gram of 25% albumin per kilogram body weight to support plasma oncotic pressure and avoid hypovolemic shock secondary to paracentesis. Since the 25% albumin is stocked in 50 mL bottles, eight bottles were released at 12.5 grams albumin per bottle. Typically, 5% albumin, which is oncotically equivalent volume for volume with plasma, is utilized primarily for volume expansion roughly equal to the amount infused, whereas hyperoncotic 25% albumin is typically utilized to correct oncotic deficits. Please download the package inserts below in .pdf format and note that these documents, in their most current form, as well as those for several other product lines, are also freely available at Talecris Biotherapeutics for download.
Plasbumin® package inserts as of 01/14/2010:
Plasbumin®-5
Plasbumin®-25
Please note that Plasbumin®-5 and Plasbumin®-25 are registered trademarks of Talecris Biotherapeutics, a provider of human albumin products and their package inserts, among many other things.
Posted in Clinical Pathology Tagged: blood bank
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Sign in nowI already knew this. I learned this in medical school in our second year. I’m pretty sure it was on the USMLE Step 1. But, I’m glad you learned that today.
Bottom line: never ever trust an on-call intern….Amen!
I can dig it.
Please don’t also forget to restick the patient just in case it is a mechanical issue with the stick.
Excellent point, Doctor.