Clinical practice guidelines for the use of albumin: results of a drug use evaluation in a Paris hospital

Clinical practice guidelines on the prescription of albumin were instituted in our hospital according to a method which combined a review of the medical literature with experts' points of view. Their broadcasting was based upon a daily patient-specific decision support which was well-documented by the prescribing physician. The method for assessing the impact was a six month analysis of the discrepancies between recommendations and clinical practice. Results were a better compliance with guidelines (25.5% before and 59% after developing recommendations), a decrease 70% in grams of albumin prescribed and in use of an increase synthetic colloids, and a savings of $ 57,208 per year.