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Suggest Treatment For A Gastric Bleed Caused By A Duodenal Ulcer
Question: In February, my husband suffered a Gastric bleed caused by a Duodenal Ulcer. He also at the time had a chest infection which aggravated his Liver. His Liver Enzymes were in chaos and his doctor told me that he was waiting for the enzymes to settle before giving him some Albumin. But he stressed he would only give him 2x500ml of 5% over 8 hours and no more. Stating that, "If we give it while his enzymes are in chaos, or give him too much or too quickly we will make matters worse."
Is this true....how much is too much and what would be too quickly?
Is this true....how much is too much and what would be too quickly?
Brief Answer:
Giving albumin too quickly can cause serious problems indeed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
How high was his liver enzymes? What was the reason of giving albumin?
Please note that chest infection can not cause liver enzymes elevation. Some medicines like antibiotics or painkillers can make liver enzyme slightly elevated but for sure not chest infection. So the only reason of liver enzymes elevation is fatty liver in his case.
When giving albumin injection, it is necessary to make it slowly, not rapidly. Otherwise it can cause pulmonary edema, heart failure, hypertension and many more. That is why its important to monitor patient during such infusion.
So his doctor was partially right. Giving it too much or too quickly can make things worse.
But liver enzymes has nothing to do with it.
I can not answer about the dosage and time of infusion as it should be chosen individually according to patient condition, albumin level and chronic diseases.
If they were treating hypoalbuminemia, 100ml per kilogram is usually given. However the dosage can not be higher than 2g of albumin per kilogram.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Giving albumin too quickly can cause serious problems indeed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
How high was his liver enzymes? What was the reason of giving albumin?
Please note that chest infection can not cause liver enzymes elevation. Some medicines like antibiotics or painkillers can make liver enzyme slightly elevated but for sure not chest infection. So the only reason of liver enzymes elevation is fatty liver in his case.
When giving albumin injection, it is necessary to make it slowly, not rapidly. Otherwise it can cause pulmonary edema, heart failure, hypertension and many more. That is why its important to monitor patient during such infusion.
So his doctor was partially right. Giving it too much or too quickly can make things worse.
But liver enzymes has nothing to do with it.
I can not answer about the dosage and time of infusion as it should be chosen individually according to patient condition, albumin level and chronic diseases.
If they were treating hypoalbuminemia, 100ml per kilogram is usually given. However the dosage can not be higher than 2g of albumin per kilogram.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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