Effect and safety of 4% albumin in the treatment of cardiac surgery patients: study protocol for the randomized, double-blind, clinical ALBICS (ALBumin In Cardiac Surgery) trial

Table 1 Trial design for ALBumin In Cardiac Surgery (ALBICS) study

Study intervention	Albumin group: study solution	Ringer group: study solution
Unblinded CPB priming Blinded CPB priming	1200 mL of Ringer’s acetate 300 mL of 20% albumin (final albumin concentration of 4%)	1200 mL of Ringer’s acetate 300 mL of Ringer’s acetate (pure Ringer’s acetate)
Blinded volume replacement up to 3200 ml^a	Albumin 4%	Ringer’s acetate
Unblinded volume replacement over 3200 ml^a	Ringer’s acetate	Ringer’s acetate
Other fluid management
Background infusion^a	Ringer’s acetate 0.5 mL/kg/h	Ringer’s acetate 0.5 mL/kg/h
Blood transfusions^a	Based on clinical decision, excluding albumin	Based on clinical decision, excluding albumin

ISSN: 1745-6215