Incidence and risk factors associated with human albumin administration following total joint arthroplasty: a multicenter retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program advocates implementation of perioperative goal-directed fluid therapy and reduced application of colloidal fluids. It should be used reasonably selectively in high-risk patients despite the clear efficacy of human albumin (HA). Therefore, it is vital to identify the risk factors for the use of HA. This study aims to determine the incidence and risk factors of HA administration in patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty (THA, TKA). METHODS: We identified patients undergoing THA or TKA in multiple institutions from 2014 to 2016 and collected patient demographics and perioperative variables. The criterion of HA administration was defined as a postoperative albumin level < 32 g/L or 32 to 35 g/L for at-risk patients. We compared 14 variables between patients who received HA administration and those who did not after stratification by the preoperative albumin (pre-ALB) level. Multivariable regressions identified the independent risk factors associated with HA administration. RESULTS: In total, 958 (20.3%) of 4713 patients undergoing THA and 410 (9.7%) of 4248 patients undergoing TKA received HA administration. In addition to pre-ALB < 35 g/L, preoperative anemia (odds ratio [OR] 2.12, P = 0.001; OR 1.39, P < 0.001) and drain use (OR 3.33, P = 0.001; OR 4.25, P < 0.001) were also independent risk factors for HA administration after THA regardless pre-ALB < 35 g/L or not, and patients undergoing TKA diagnosed of rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis tended to receive HA administration regardless pre-ALB < 35 g/L or not (OR 3.67, P = 0.002; OR 2.06, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of HA administration was high in patients undergoing THA or TKA, and several variables were risk factors for HA administration. This finding may aid surgeons in preoperatively identifying patients requiring HA administration and optimizing perioperative managements. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13018-021-02642-9.