The Role of Albumin in Septic Shock: A Clinical Impasse?
Septic shock remains one of the most significant challenges in modern intensive care medicine, characterized by profound circulatory, cellular, and metabolic abnormalities. Fluid resuscitation is the cornerstone of initial management, yet the choice of fluid—specifically the role of colloids like albumin—has been a subject of intense debate for decades. While crystalloids are the first-line recommendation in international guidelines, albumin is often considered when patients require large volumes of fluid. The Albumin Replacement Therapy in Septic Shock (ARISS) trial sought to provide definitive evidence on whether targeted albumin supplementation could improve long-term survival in this high-risk population.
