Perioperative albumin versus other fluids to prevent cardiac surgery associated kidney injury: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials

BackgroundAcute kidney injury is a common complication following cardiac surgery. Albumin infusions have been proposed as an intervention that reduce the risk of this complication, but existing data have shown heterogenous results. The recent completion of two randomised controlled trial of Albumin infusions in cardiac surgical patients provides the opportunity to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to improve the precision of the estimated treatment effect of Albumin infusions in cardiac surgery. MethodsWe will conduct a systematic review of randomised controlled trials that have evaluated the use of peri-operative Albumin infusions compared to comparator fluids in patient undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery. We will conduct a search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Central from inception to 22nd August. The review will be conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 statement. We will use a bayesian framework to estimate the treatment effect of albumin to prevent acute kidney injury defined according to the KDIGO criteria. ResultsThis systematic review has been prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024580170) and the formal search was conducted on 23rd August 2024. Title and abstract screening has commenced with data extraction to commence following the submission of the protocol. ConclusionThis systematic review will provide an updated systematic review and meta-analysis to inform clinicians about the role Albumin infusion in cardiac surgery.