Relationship between the Preoperative Albumin Levels and Postoperative Complications in Carcinoma Stomach Patients

Background: Malnutrition in gastrointestinal cancer patients adversely affects the surgical outcomes. low serum albumin and postoperative complications were associated with one another.

Objectives: To find out the relationship between preoperative albumin levels and postoperative complications among carcinoma stomach patients.

Materials and Methods: The present study was a single institution retrospective study carried out in the department of general surgery, Saveetha medical college and hospital between February 2021 to July 2021. Fifty patients diagnosed with carcinoma stomach and electively posted for surgery during the study period were included into the study. The data was collected using structured proforma. Preoperative albumin and haemoglobin levels were estimated using blood samples. All the data collected were analysed using SPSS version 23.

Results: The preoperative albumin levels among those who had reported complication was 3.04±0.19 g/dl while those who had no complication in the postoperative period had preoperative albumin level of 3.82±0.31g/dl. The preoperative mean haemoglobin level among those who developed complications in the post operative period was 9.68±0.95 mg/dl and the mean haemoglobin level among those with no complication was 11.46±1.89 mg/dl. Albumin and haemoglobin values were found to be negatively correlated with duration of stay in hospital.

Conclusion: Malnutrition in the preoperative period would increase the probability of occurrence of postoperative complications and increased duration of stay in hospital. Attending to malnutrition of the admitted patients in the preoperative period would help in decreasing the postoperative complications and duration of stay.