| Related Articles |
Preoperative Hypoalbuminemia is an Independent Risk Factor for the Development of Surgical Site Infection Following Gastrointestinal Surgery: A Multi-Institutional Study.
Ann Surg. 2010 Jul 19;
Authors: Hennessey DB, Burke JP, Ni-Dhonochu T, Shields C, Winter DC, Mealy K
BACKGROUND:: Surgical site infection (SSI) is an infection occurring in an incisional wound within 30 days of surgery and significantly effects patient recovery and hospital resources. OBJECTIVE:: This study sought to determine the relationship between preoperative serum albumin and SSI. METHODS:: A study of 524 patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery in 4 institutions was performed. Patients were identified using a prospective SSI database and hospital records. Serum albumin was determined preoperatively in all patients. Hypoalbuminemia was defined as albumin <30 mg/dL. Data are presented as median (interquartile range) and a difference between groups was examined using Mann-Whitney U and Fisher exact test and multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS:: A total of 105 patients developed a SSI (20%). The median time to the development of SSI was 7 (5-10) days. Having an emergency procedure (P = 0.003), having a procedure over 3 hours in duration (P = 0.047), being American Society of Anaesthetics grade 3 (P = 0.03) and not receiving preoperative antibiotics (P = 0.007) were associated with SSI while having a laparoscopic procedure reduced the likelihood of SSI (P = 0.004). Patients who developed a SSI had a lower preoperative serum albumin (30 [25-34.5] vs. 36 [32-39], P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, hypoalbuminemia was an independent risk factor for SSI development (relative risk, RR = 5.68, 95% confidence interval: 3.45-9.35, P < 0.001). Albumin <30 mg/dL was associated with an increased rate of deep versus superficial SSI (P = 0.002). The duration of inpatient stay was negatively correlated with preoperative albumin (R = -0.319, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:: Hypoalbuminemia is an independent risk factor for the development of SSI following gastrointestinal surgery and is associated with deeper SSI and prolonged inpatient stay.
PMID: 20647925 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]