Early Evaluation of Serum Albumin Level in Pediatric Burned Patients

Abstract

background: Burn patients are unique in that not only do they reduce albuminsynthesis in response to trauma, but also they experience accelerated albuminlosses into their wound dressings and soft tissue.Methods: Serum albumin has been determined in 26 children with age rangedbetween (l-14) years and with total body surface area of burn (11-60%) during theirinitial few weeks of care. Their serum albumin levels were estimated at second day,seventh day and fourteenth day after burn. Intravenous albumin was administered byinfusion of 1-2 g/kg/d when plasma Albumin fell bellow 2 g/100ml. or bellows 2.5g/100ml in the presence of enteral feeding intolerance or pulmonary dysfunction,their further results were excluded.Results: The mean plasma Albumin was 3.062 g/100ml) at day 2 , 2.952 g/100mlat day 7 and 2.45 g/100ml at day 14 . The relationship between the surface area ofburn and albumin concentration was not significant, (r = - 0.1111406). The valueof albumin was found to be 0.752 g/dl under the normal average value (p< 0.005).Conclusion: Hypoalbuminemia is usual in pediatric burned patients especiallyafter 7 -14 day of the accident, the period of high risk of septic complications.Keywords: Serum albumin, Hypoalbuminemia, Burn