The SAFE Study: a landmark trial of the safety of albumin in intensive care

• 1 Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society, Melbourne, VIC.
• 2 Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Melbourne, VIC.
• 3 The George Institute for International Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW.

---

• 1. Cochrane Injuries Group Albumin Reviewers. Human albumin administration in critically ill patients: systematic review of randomised controlled trials. BMJ 1998; 317: 235-240.
• 2. Wilkes MM, Navickis RJ. Patient survival after human albumin administration: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials. Ann Intern Med 2001; 135: 149-164.
• 3. Summaries for patients. Whether albumin therapy improves or worsens survival of critically ill patients is not known. Ann Intern Med 2001; 135: S-25.
• 4. The SAFE Study Investigators. A comparison of albumin and saline for fluid resuscitation in the intensive care unit. N Engl J Med 2004; 350: 2247-2256.
• 5. Cook D. Is albumin safe? [editorial] N Engl J Med 2004; 350: 2294-2296.
• 6. ANZICS Clinical Trials Group and Institute for International Health SAFE Study Investigators. The Saline vs. Albumin Fluid Evaluation (SAFE) Study (ISRCTN76588266): design and conduct of a multi-centre, blinded randomised controlled trial of intravenous fluid resuscitation in critically ill patients. Available at: bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/7389/559/DC1 (accessed Jun 2004).
• 7. Choi PT, Yip G, Quinonez LG, Cook DJ. Crystalloids vs. colloids in fluid resuscitation: a systematic review. Crit Care Med 1999; 27: 200-210.
• 8. Nicholson JP, Wolmarans MR, Park GR. The role of albumin in critical illness. Br J Anaesth 2000; 85: 599-610.
• 9. Lewis CA, Martin GS. Understanding and managing fluid balance in patients with acute lung injury. Curr Opin Crit Care 2004; 10: 13-17.