Intraventricular albumin: an optional agent in experimental post-traumatic brain edema

Hypothesis: Human albumin may be effective in the treatment of posttraumatic brain edema due to its hyperoncotic features. Therefore, the aim of the experimental stud presented in this paper has two points: the first is to evaluate the efficacy of intraventricular hyperoncotic human albumin on post-traumatic brain edema and the second is to try to show the appropriate posttraumatic time window for albumin administration. Method: Traumatic brain injury and subsequent edema was formed by a model of impact acceleration injury in rats. Human albumin was administered via intraventricular route by using a stereotactic head holder. All animals in each roup were decapitated 24 hours after the procedure and the effect of albumin was evaluate by measurement of tissue specific gravity. Results: Tissue specific gravity decreased in edematous tissue (trauma indicator), increased after albumin administration at the 12th (p<0.001), and both at the 1st and 12th hour of the trauma (edema treatment; p<0.001). On the other hand, albumin administered at the 12th, and at both the 1st and 12th hours in the rats without trauma has caused the formation of the brain edema. Conclusion: We conclude that human albumin is effective in cytotoxic, but not in vasogenic edema and exerts its best anti-edematous effect at the 12th hour of severe head trauma and this study may help future studies that will try to show the effects of albumin with different time modalities after severe head injury.