The Influence of Albumin Level in Critically Ill Children to Length of Stay and Mortality in Paediatric Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND: The use of albumin in the critical care setting is a very controversial issue. Low serum albumin concentration in critical illness is associated with a poor outcome. AIM: We aimed to evaluate the influence of albumin level in critically ill children to the length of stay and mortality in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Haji Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan, Indonesia. METHODS: The study used an observational method with a cross-sectional design. The population of the study was all patients with major postoperative surgery and critically ill that admitted to the PICU at Haji Adam Malik Hospital from the period of June 2008 to September 2008. The albumin level of the subjects was determined on the first day admitted. RESULTS: The group with hypoalbuminemia (< 3 g/dL) was given albumin supplementation according to a protocol in the PICU. The group with hypoalbuminemia have an average length of stay 7.6 days (9.7%) and mortality of 12 subjects (36.4%). The group with normal albumin level have 4.7 days (5.0%) and mortality 13 subjects (37.1%). There was no significant effect of albumin level to mortality. CONCLUSION: Albumin level did not affect the length of stay and mortality in PICU.