Paradoxical effect of hyperoncotic albumin in acutely burned children.

Hyperoncotic albumin proved ineffective as a plasma volume expander in the resuscitation of four acutely burned children. Hypovolemia and pulmonary edema were apparently intensified by an obligatory fluid shift following tissue extravasation of protein. We conclude that, when used, hyperoncotic albumin should be suspended in a sufficient volume of saline to produce a solution isotonic and iso-oncotic relative to plasma.