Postoperative hypoalbuminemia as a risk factor for surgical site infection after oral cancer surgery

Hypoalbuminemia and Postoperative Outcomes Following Major Salivary Gland Resection

Objective

Hypoalbuminemia (HA) is a proxy for malnutrition that has been associated with postoperative complications in several surgical subspecialties. This study investigates the association between pre-operative HA and complications following major salivary gland (MSG) resection.

Methods

Patients undergoing outpatient, elective MSG resection were extracted from the 2005 to 2020 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Demographics and comorbidities were compared between HA (preoperative serum albumin < 3.5 g/dL) and non-HA cohorts. To determine associations between albumin status and postoperative complications, univariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results

A total of 5774 patients undergoing MSG resection were included, of which 321 (5.6%) had preoperative HA. HA was associated with older age on univariate analysis (65.2 vs. 60.2 years, p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis found HA to be independently associated with any surgical complication (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.09-3.56, p = 0.019) and length of stay (LOS) ≥ 90th percentile (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.04-2.38, p = 0.032).

Conclusion

Preoperative HA may be a poor prognostic factor associated with an increased risk of surgical complications and prolonged LOS among patients undergoing MSG resection.

Level of Evidence

4.

Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index and Postoperative Outcomes Following Head and Neck Cancer Surgery

BACKGROUND

The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is a tool to assess preoperative nutritional status that can be calculated simply based on height, weight, and serum albumin. This study assesses the utility of GNRI in predicting postoperative complications in patients undergoing major head and neck cancer (HNC) surgery.

METHODS

Retrospective review of the 2016-2020 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients were categorized into GNRI > 98 (normal nutritional status), GNRI 92-98 (moderate malnutrition status), and GNRI < 92 (severe malnutrition status). Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Sixteen thousand seven hundred eight-nine patients undergoing HNC resection were included. On multivariable analysis, moderate and severe malnourishment based on GNRI remained significantly associated with any surgical complication, any medical complication, any complication, Clavien-Dindo grade IV complications, and 30-day mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

GNRI may have utility as a potentially modifiable preoperative prognostic factor that can be optimized to improve complications and mortality following HNC resection.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 4.

Establishing a role for the oral microbiome in infectious complications following major oral cavity cancer surgery

Surgery forms the backbone of treatment for most locoregional or advanced oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. Unfortunately, infectious complications (including orocutaneous fistulas) are common following such extensive surgery and can afflict over half of patients. These complications can lead to delays in adjuvant treatment, prolonged hospitalization, reconstructive failure, and decreased quality of life. The frequency and morbidity associated with infectious complications has led to the search for pre-disposing risk factors; and, several have been identified, including both patient (e.g. diabetes) and surgical (e.g. operative time) factors. However, these findings are inconsistently reproduced, and risk factor modification has had a limited impact on rates of infectious complications. This is striking given that the likely contaminant-the oral microbiome-is a well-studied microbial reservoir. Because many oral cavity cancer surgeries involve violation of oral mucosa and the spillage of the oral microbiome into normally sterile areas (e.g. the neck), variance in oral microbiome composition and function could underly differences in infectious complications. The goal of this perspective is to highlight 1) this knowledge gap and 2) opportunities for studies in this domain. The implication of this line of thought is that the identification of oral microbial dysbiosis in patients undergoing surgery for oral cavity cancer could lead to targeted pre-operative therapeutic interventions, decreased infectious complications, and improved patient outcomes.

Local surgery feasibility and safety after carbon ion radiotherapy for primary bone sarcomas

BACKGROUND

It is known that several complications are caused by local surgery after radiotherapy. Clinical reports that describe the postoperative complications associated with surgery after carbon ion radiotherapy are sparse. This study aimed to elucidate local surgery feasibility after carbon ion radiotherapy specifically for primary bone sarcomas.

METHODS

The medical, surgical, and irradiation records of patients who had local surgery at the area irradiated with carbon ion beams between 2004 and 2018 were reviewed retrospectively to evaluate the feasibility and indication of local surgery after CIRT.

RESULTS

There were eight patients who had 10 local surgeries at the irradiated sites among the 42 carbon ion radiotherapy patients. There were seven males and one female with a median age of 50 years (range 26-73 years). The reasons for surgery were three for skin toxicity and associated infection, five for bone collapse, and associated implant failure, and two for tumor regrowth. All surgical fields included the area of more than 60 Gy (RBE) irradiated dose. All three surgical cases caused by skin toxicity and associated infection had Grade I wound complication after surgery according to the Clavien-Dindo Classification.

CONCLUSION

Local surgery after CIRT appeared feasible in selected patients with primary bone sarcoma, especially for the patients with bone collapse and associated implant failure. However, infection and prescribed irradiation dose at the incision site must be carefully evaluated.

[French national standard for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of upper aero-digestive tract - General principles of treatment]

OBJECTIVES

The management of upper aerodigestive tract cancers is a complex specialty. It is essential to provide an update to establish optimal care. At the initiative of the INCa and under the auspices of the SFORL, the scientific committee, led by Professor Béatrix Barry, Dr. Gilles Dolivet, and Dr. Dominique De Raucourt, decided to develop a reference framework aimed at defining, in a scientific and consensus-based manner, the general principles of treatment for upper aerodigestive tract cancers applicable to all sub-locations.

METHODOLOGY

To develop this framework, a multidisciplinary team of practitioners was formed. A systematic analysis of the literature was conducted to produce recommendations classified by grades, in accordance with the standards of the French National Authority for Health (HAS).

RESULTS

The grading of recommendations according to HAS standards has allowed the establishment of a reference for patient care based on several criteria. In this framework, patients benefit from differentiated care based on prognostic factors they present (age, comorbidities, TNM status, HPV status, etc.), conditions of implementation, and quality criteria for indicated surgery (operability, resectability, margin quality, mutilation, salvage surgery), as well as quality criteria for radiotherapy (target volume, implementation time, etc.). The role of medical and postoperative treatments was also evaluated based on specific criteria. Finally, supportive care must be organized from the beginning and throughout the patients' care journey.

CONCLUSION

All collected data have led to the development of a comprehensive framework aimed at harmonizing practices nationally, facilitating decision-making in multidisciplinary consultation meetings, promoting equality in practices, and providing a state-of-the-art and reference practices for assessing the quality of care. This new framework is intended to be updated every 5 years to best reflect the latest advances in the field.

Frequency and Risk Factors of Surgical Site Infection among Sudanese Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background

In Sudan, patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) presented lately in advanced stages. Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common complications of surgical treatment of OSCC which significantly affects the clinical outcomes. The present study aimed to assess the frequency and risk factors of postoperative surgical site infection among OSCC patients underwent surgery at Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital (KTDH).

Methods

This is a prospective, analytical, hospital-based study conducted at KTDH during the period from 2022 to 2023. Patients with OSCC were surgically treated and assessed carefully for the development of the SSI.

Results

Sixty patients were enrolled in the present study. Twenty-nine (48.3%) patients were above 61 years, with the predominance of males with 42 (70%) patients. The most involved site of OSCC was the lower gingivolabial region in 35 (39.3%) patients. Forty-seven (78%) patients were in advanced stages III and IV. Forty-five (80%) patients had modified radical neck dissection. Blood transfusion was administered in 50 (83.3%) patients. Twenty-six (43.4%) patients developed SSI; 15 (57.7%) patients of them were Toombak dippers. Development of SSI was found to be significantly associated with the tumour site (P value 0.9), clinical stage (P value 0.6), the number of transfused blood units (P value 0.04), and the duration of hospital stay (P value 0.04). In contrast, use of sutures for wound closure was associated with a reduced risk of developing SSI (P value 0.005).

Conclusion

Surgical site infection was found in 43.4% of the OSCC patients. It was associated with advanced clinical stage and tumour site. Minimizing the number of blood units transfused intraoperatively, we decrease the duration of hospital stay and the use of sutures for wound closure decreases the risk of SSI significantly.

Incidence and risk factors of surgical site infection in patients with head and neck cancer: A meta-analysis

We systematically review the incidence and risk factors of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients with head and neck cancer. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched to obtain studies on the risk factors for SSI in patients with HNC. The retrieval time was from the establishment of the database to February 2023. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias in included studies. Meta-analysis was performed by using Stata 15.1 software. A total of 32 articles including 128 919 patients with head and neck cancer and 2949 cases of SSI were included in this meta-analysis. The incidence rate of SSI in head and neck cancer ranges from 19% to 29%, and the overall infection rate was 24%. Meta-analysis indicated that BMI < 20 kg/m2 (OR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.74-4.00; I2 , 0%), diabetes (OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 2.12-4.16; I2 , 60.6%), ASA score (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.29-1.77; I2 , 0%), radiotherapy (OR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.87-2.77; I2 , 44.8%), chemotherapy (OR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.64-3.40; I2 , 0%), clindamycin antibiotic (OR, 2.99; 95% CI, 1.82-2.93; I2 , 36.5%), deficit repair (OR, 3.76; 95% CI, 1.22-11.59; I2 , 91.4%), neck dissection (OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.63-2.79; I2 , 16.4%), blood transfusion (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.52-3.45; I2 , 66.2%), mandibular (OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.85-5.42; I2 , 73%), tracheostomy (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.74-3.62; I2 , 86.4%), operation time (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.16-1.74; I2 , 86.4%), ALB (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.95-3.15; I2 , 5.3%) were risk factors of surgical site infection in patients with head and neck cancer (p < 0.05). The results of the sensitivity analysis showed good agreement in all risk factors and the results had stability. The present meta-analysis suggests that BMI < 20 kg/m2 , diabetes, ASA score, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, clindamycin antibiotic, deficit repair, neck dissection, blood transfusion, mandibular, tracheostomy, operation time, and ALB were significant risk factors for SSI.

The efficacy of hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocytes, and platelets (HALP) score in signifying acute appendicitis severity and postoperative outcomes

The HALP score, which is a combined index composed of hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet, is a new indicator showing both inflammation and nutritional status. This study aims to evaluate the relationship of this combined index consisting of simple laboratory values with the degree of appendicitis complication and postoperative results in patients operated on for acute appendicitis. The data of 684 patients operated for acute appendicitis between January 2017 and December 2022 and inclusion criteria were analyzed with a single-center retrospective cross-sectional study design. Using routine laboratory data, patients' HALP scores were divided into two groups as low and high. The cut-off value of the HALP score according to the presence of postoperative complications was determined as < 31.2 by ROC analysis and the ROC curve. Patients were grouped as HALP score cut-off value below (group 1) and above (group 2). Complicated appendicitis and postoperative outcomes were compared to the HALP score groups. According to the cut-off value of the HALP score, 113 (16.5%) of the patients were in Group 1, and 571 (83.5%) were in Group 2. Complications developed in 15 (26%) patients (p < 0.001). Low HALP scores were a significant risk factor for peri-appendicular abscess (OR 29.12 95% CI 12.39-68.43), appendicitis perforation (OR = 20.82 95% 12.67-34.19), gangrenous appendicitis (OR = 35, 54, 95% 13.33-94.77), and postoperative complications (OR = 15.29 95% 7.95-29.41) (p < 0.001). Besides clinical and radiological findings, the HALP score shows the degree of acute appendicitis complication. It can be used as a simple, inexpensive, and easily applicable diagnostic tool.

Association between immediate postoperative hypoalbuminemia and surgical site infection after posterior lumbar fusion surgery

PURPOSE

In this study, we intended to investigate the association between immediate postoperative hypoalbuminemia and surgical site infection (SSI), and determine a threshold value for postoperative hypoalbuminemia that can assist in risk stratification in patients after posterior lumbar fusion surgery.

METHODS

From January 2017 to December 2021, 466 consecutive patients who underwent posterior lumbar fusion surgery were selected to analyze the relationship between immediate postoperative hypoalbuminemia and SSI. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent risk factors of SSI and postoperative hypoalbuminemia. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the optimal value for postoperative hypoalbuminemia, and subsequent grouping was based on the identified threshold.

RESULTS

Of the total 466 patients, 25 patients (5.4%) developed SSI after surgery, and lower postoperative albumin (OR: 0.716, 95% CI: 0.611-0.840, p < 0.001) was independently associated with SSI. ROC analysis showed that the cutoff value of postoperative hypoalbuminemia was 32 g/L with a sensitivity of 0.760, specificity of 0.844, and a Youden index of 0.604. Postoperative SSI was more common in patients with postoperative hypoalbuminemia than in those without (21.6% vs. 1.6%, p < 0.001). Age, gender and operative duration were found to be independent predictors of postoperative hypoalbuminemia.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that immediate postoperative hypoalbuminemia was an independent risk factor for the development of SSI in patients who underwent posterior lumbar fusion. Even in patients with a normal preoperative serum albumin level, there was an increased risk of SSI when the postoperative albumin within 24 h was < 32 g/L.

Post-Operative Infections in Head and Neck Cancer Surgery: Risk Factors for Different Infection Sites

Background: Post-operative infections in head and neck cancer (HNC) surgery represent a major problem and are associated with an important increase in mortality, morbidity, and burden on the healthcare system. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to evaluate post-operative infections in HNC surgery and to analyze risk factors, with a specific focus on different sites of infection. Methods: Clinical data about 488 HNC patients who underwent surgery were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for post-operative infections. Results: Post-operative infections were observed in 22.7% of cases. Respiratory and surgical site infections were the most common. Multiple site infections were observed in 3.9% of cases. Considering all infection sites, advanced stage, tracheotomy, and higher duration of surgery were risk factors at multivariate analysis. Median hospital stay was significantly longer in patients who had post-operative infection (38 vs. 9 days). Conclusions: Post-operative infections may negatively affect surgical outcomes. A correct identification of risk factors may help the physicians to prevent post-operative infections in HNC surgery.

Peri-Operative Fall in Serum Albumin Levels Correlate Well With Outcomes in Children Undergoing Emergency Abdominal Surgery: A Prospective Study From a Resource-Limited Setting

Background

Albumin is a negative acute-phase protein as its levels fall after injury, sepsis, and surgical stress. A review of the literature suggests that serum albumin level drops rapidly after surgery in adults and correlates well with the outcomes. However, there is limited data on the use of peri-operative fall in serum albumin levels as an outcome predictor in children undergoing emergency abdominal surgeries. We aim to investigate the correlation between the degree of peri-operative fall in serum albumin levels and the outcomes in children undergoing emergent abdominal surgeries.

Materials and methods

This prospective study included all children aged 2-15 years undergoing emergent abdominal surgeries between January 2019 to June 2020 at our center. Preoperative serum albumin level (A1) was recorded for all children. Postoperative day 0 serum albumin level (A2) was sent 4-6 hours following the surgery. The degree of peri-operative fall in serum albumin level (∆A) was calculated by subtracting A2 from A1. Patients were then grouped on the basis of ∆ A, i.e. groups 1 and 2 with ∆ A < 0.5 and ≥ 0.5 gm/dl respectively. Additional data like diagnosis, surgical procedure, duration of surgery, complications, and length of hospital stay were also recorded. Recorded parameters in group 1 were then compared to group 2 statistically.

Results

Fifty-six children (male to female ratio {M:F} = 1.5:1), who met the inclusion criteria during the study period, were included in the study. Groups 1 and 2 comprised 38 and 18 children respectively. The postoperative serum albumin levels were significantly lower in group 2 (p = 0.0005). Duration of surgery was significantly higher in group 2 (p = 0.0474). Complications and length of hospital stay were significantly higher in group 2 (p = 0.0107 and p = 0.0375 respectively).

Conclusion

The present study evaluated the fall in peri-operative serum albumin level (∆A) in children undergoing emergent abdominal surgery as a marker of stress. Higher values of ∆A (≥ 0.5 gm/dl) depicted a significant correlation with complications requiring re-laparotomy and a longer length of hospital stay. 

Association between postoperative hypoalbuminemia and postoperative pulmonary imaging abnormalities patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors: a retrospective cohort study

Hypoalbuminemia is associated with poor outcome in patients undergoing surgery intervention. The main aim for this study was to investigate the incidence and the risk factors of postoperative hypoalbuminemia and assessed the impact of postoperative hypoalbuminemia on complications in patients undergoing brain tumor surgery. This retrospective study included 372 consecutive patients who underwent brain tumors surgery from January 2017 to December 2019. The patients were divided into hypoalbuminemia (< 35 g/L) and non-hypoalbuminemia group (≥ 35 g/L) based on postoperative albumin levels. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine risk factors. Of the total 372 patients, 333 (89.5%) developed hypoalbuminemia after surgery. Hypoalbuminemia was associated with operation time (OR 1.011, P < 0.001), preoperative albumin (OR 0.864, P = 0.015) and peroperative globulin (OR 1.192, P = 0.004). Postoperative pulmonary imaging abnormalities had a higher incidence in patients with than without hypoalbuminemia (41.1% vs 23.1%, P = 0.029). The independent predictors of postoperative pulmonary imaging abnormalities were age (OR 1.053, P < 0.001), operation time (OR 1.003, P = 0.013) and lower postoperative albumin (OR 0.946, P = 0.018). Pulmonary imaging abnormalities [OR 19.862 (95% CI 2.546–154.936, P = 0.004)] was a novel independent predictors of postoperative pneumonia. Postoperative hypoalbuminemia has a higher incidence with the increase of operation time, and may be associated with postoperative complications in patients undergoing brain tumor surgery.

Impact of the practical guideline on appropriate usage of antimicrobial treatments for surgical site infections in reconstructive surgery of head and neck cancer

OBJECTIVES

In 2016, Japanese Society of Chemotherapy and Japan Society for Surgical Infection presented the practical guideline for appropriate usage of antimicrobial agents to prevent postoperative infections. This study aims to exhibit the validity of the guideline as a series of effective strategies for prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs) during reconstructive surgery of the head and neck cancer.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent head and neck reconstructive surgery with free or pedicle flaps in a single institute in Japan between July 2010 and July 2020. We evaluated the incidence of SSIs, patient backgrounds, and microbiological characteristics on the basis of antimicrobial prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.

RESULTS

Enrolled in this study were 102 patients in our institution who underwent head and neck reconstructive surgery with free or pedicle flaps between July 2010 and July 2020. In the period between January 2018 to July 2020 after the SSI guideline was advocated (SSI guideline period), the ratio of administration of sulbactam/ampicillin (SBT/ABPC) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) and the duration of prophylactic antimicrobial treatment was significantly shorter than in the period between July 2010 to December 2017 before the SSI guideline was advocated (Pre-SSI guideline period) (P < 0.001). Incidence of SSIs were similar, even when antibiotic use was changed to be short-term single-agent administration in accordance with the practical guideline.

CONCLUSIONS

Adherence to the current Japanese practical guideline on appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis for SSIs can shorten the duration of usage of antimicrobial treatment without increasing the risk for occurrence of SSIs.

Risk factors for surgical site infection in head and neck cancer

PURPOSE

Surgical site infection (SSI) frequently occurs in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) after tumor resection and can lead to death in severe cases. Moreover, there is no definitive conclusion about the risk factors of SSI. Therefore, it is of great clinical significance to study the factors affecting the SSI.

METHODS

The HNC patients included in this study were all from the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University (CSU), and these patients received surgical treatment in the department from January 2018 to December 2019. The cross tabulation with chi-squared testing and multivariate regression analysis were applied to determine the risk factors of SSI. To identify the key risk factors of SSI, the caret package was used to construct three different machine learning models to investigate important features involving 26 SSI-related risk factors.

RESULTS

Participants were 632 HNC patients who underwent surgery in our department from January 2018 to December 2019. During the postoperative period, 82 patients suffered from SSI, and surgical site infection rate (SSIR) was about 12.97%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that diabetes mellitus, primary tumor site (floor of mouth), preoperative radiotherapy, flap failure, and neck dissection (bilateral) are risk factors for SSI of HNC. Machine learning indicated that diabetes mellitus, primary tumor site (floor of mouth), and flap failure were consistently ranked the top three in the 26 SSI-related risk factors.

CONCLUSION

Diabetes mellitus, primary tumor site (floor of mouth), flap failure, preoperative radiotherapy, and neck dissection (bilateral) are risk factors for SSI of HNC.

The Utility of Comorbidity Indices in Assessing Head and Neck Surgery Outcomes: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the utility of comorbidity index (CI) scores in predicting outcomes in head and neck surgery (HNS). The CIs evaluated were the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI), Kaplan-Feinstein Index (KFI), American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS), Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 (ACE-27), National Cancer Institute Comorbidity Index (NCI-CI), and the Washington University Head and Neck Comorbidity Index (WUHNCI).

METHODS

We report a systematic review according to the 2009 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase) and manual search of bibliographies identified manuscripts addressing how CI scores related to HNS outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 116 studies associated CI scores with HNS outcomes. CIs were represented in the literature as follows: ASA-PS (70/116), CCI (39/116), ACE-27 (24/116), KFI (7/116), NCI-CI (3/116), ECI (2/116), and WUHNCI (1/116). The most frequently cited justification for calculating each CI (if provided) was: CCI for its validation in other studies, ACE-27 for its utility in cancer patients, and ECI for its comprehensive design. In general, the CCI and ACE-27 were predictive of mortality in HNS. The ECI was most consistent in predicting >1-year mortality. The ACE-27 and KFI were most consistent in predicting medical complications.

CONCLUSION

Despite inconsistencies in the literature, CIs provide insights into the impact of comorbidities on outcomes in HNS. These scores should be employed as an adjunct in the preoperative assessment of HNS patients. Comparative studies are needed to identify indices that are most reliable in predicting HNS outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA Laryngoscope, 2021.

Prognostic role of pretreatment albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio in locally advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer: Retrospective cohort study

Background: This study was designed to assess the prognostic significance of pretreatment albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR) in locally advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer (LA-LHC).

Materials and Methods: The clinical data of 341 patients with locally advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer diagnosed between March 2007 and December 2018 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The optimal cut-off value of AAPR for evaluating DFS was determined using the ROC curve, and 0.4912 was selected. Based on pretreatment AAPR values, patients were divided into two groups (low vs. high AAPR). Survival analysis was used to investigate the survival distribution between the groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the prognostic value of AAPR. Based on the results of the multivariate analysis, we further developed models of DFS and OS. We assigned low AAPR, N1-3, age ≥65 years, and positive vascular invasion one score, respectively.

Results: Survival analysis demonstrated that the survival of patients with low and high AAPR was significantly different (low vs. high AAPR: 5-year DFS, 46.0 vs. 71.9%, p<0.001; 5-year OS, 69.0 vs. 72.6%, p<0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses further showed that pretreatment AAPR served as an independent indicator in LA-LHC. Moreover, survival analysis showed that patients with high model score had poorer DFS and OS (5-year DFS: 58.1, 42.7, 26.9 and 9.1% of score zero, one, two, and three respectively, p<0.001; 5-year OS: 63.0, 50.3, 34.1 and 28.6% of score zero, one, two, and three respectively, p<0.001).

Conclusion: Pretreatment AAPR could be an independent prognostic indicator in patients with LA-LHC. Incorporating AAPR into the risk stratification model might better categorize patients with worse oncological outcomes and support treatment strategy making.

Complications and outcomes following open laryngotracheal reconstruction: A 15 year experience at an Australian paediatric tertiary referral centre

OBJECTIVE

To report on our experience with open pediatric laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) with cartilage interposition grafts over the past 15 years and document setbacks and factors that affect postoperative outcomes.

METHOD

A retrospective chart review was performed on all pediatric patients who underwent single and double-stage LTR at The Children's Hospital in Westmead between August 2004 and July 2019. The outcomes measured include the overall decannulation rate, rates of postoperative complications, need for subsequent procedures and postoperative functional results (dyspnea, stridor, voice impairment).

RESULTS

Between August 2004 and July 2019, a total of 51 open LTRs were performed on 46 patients, with mean age 3.9 years (range 1 month to 12.1 years), including 11 revision operations (11.8%). The most common indication for surgery was subglottic stenosis, followed by bilateral vocal cord motion impairment followed by anterior glottic web. 13 cases (25.5%) were complicated by ventilator associated pneumonia in the postoperative period and 11 patients (21.6%) experienced wound complications ranging from localised wound abscess to wound dehiscence and graft failure. Patients with viral infections had an increased risk of wound dehiscence and graft failure (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.01 - 3.23). Patients with a greater decrease in albumin in the postoperative period were more likely to have wound complications (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.17 -2.83). Ten patients failed extubation and required a subsequent tracheostomy. Severity of stenosis, age at time of surgery, history of prematurity and revision LTR were not predictors for need for reintubation and/or tracheostomy after surgery. 23 cases (45.1%) underwent subsequent endoscopic procedures such a balloon dilatation to manage restenosis following LTR. Though 45.7% had a very good outcome, a significant group of 21% had ongoing voice issues.

CONCLUSION

Good outcomes were achieved following open LTR for pediatric laryngotracheal stenosis despite postoperative complications. At final follow up, 33 patients (71.7%) had good exercise tolerance with no or mild stridor. Forty-one of the forty-six patients (89.1%) were successfully decannulated.

Hypothesis of using albumin to improve drug efficacy in cancers accompanied by hypoalbuminemia

A common problem in many cancers is the resistance of some patients to common drugs or relapse. Hypoalbuminemia has been reported in some of resistant cancer patients.This article evaluates the usefulness of albumin in the treatment of drug-resistant cancers with hypoalbuminemia based on available evidences.Rapid metabolism and drug excretion from the body is one of the causes of drug resistance. Albumin is the major plasma protein to which almost all drugs are bound. There is some evidence that increasing drug binding to albumin has beneficial effects on drug efficacy in some cancers and cancer cells. On the other hand, some reports have shown that cancer cells can use albumin as the energy and amino acid source.We have hypothesized that in this particular group of cancers, adding albumin to a treatment regimen could have a beneficial effect on drug efficacy and dosage. In fact, excess albumin can prevent rapid metabolism of drug by increasing the fraction of albumin-bound drug, and can increase drug delivery to cancer cells due to the absorption of drug-albumin complex by cancer cells.

Hypoalbuminemia as Surrogate and Culprit of Infections

Hypoalbuminemia is associated with the acquisition and severity of infectious diseases, and intact innate and adaptive immune responses depend on albumin. Albumin oxidation and breakdown affect interactions with bioactive lipid mediators that play important roles in antimicrobial defense and repair. There is bio-mechanistic plausibility for a causal link between hypoalbuminemia and increased risks of primary and secondary infections. Serum albumin levels have prognostic value for complications in viral, bacterial and fungal infections, and for infectious complications of non-infective chronic conditions. Hypoalbuminemia predicts the development of healthcare-associated infections, particularly with Clostridium difficile. In coronavirus disease 2019, hypoalbuminemia correlates with viral load and degree of acute lung injury and organ dysfunction. Non-oncotic properties of albumin affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antimicrobials. Low serum albumin is associated with inadequate antimicrobial treatment. Infusion of human albumin solution (HAS) supplements endogenous albumin in patients with cirrhosis of the liver and effectively supported antimicrobial therapy in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Evidence of the beneficial effects of HAS on infections in hypoalbuminemic patients without cirrhosis is largely observational. Prospective RCTs are underway and, if hypotheses are confirmed, could lead to changes in clinical practice for the management of hypoalbuminemic patients with infections or at risk of infectious complications.

Albumin and the fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio: Biomarkers for the acute phase response following total knee arthroplasty

PURPOSE

Complications following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) lead to patient morbidity and cost. While acute phase reactants, such as c-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen, have been used to predict complications following TKA, the extent and duration of changes in albumin levels following TKA are unknown. It is hypothesized that like CRP and fibrinogen, albumin, and the fibrinogen/albumin ratio (FAR) represent useful measures of the acute phase response (APR) following TKA. The purpose of this study was to describe the longitudinal course of albumin and FAR in healthy patients following TKA, relative to established biomarkers, and examine if the variance in albumin or FAR correlates with patient comorbidities.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing TKA at a tertiary medical center. CRP, fibrinogen, and albumin values were collected pre- and post-operatively. An age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was utilized as a measure of patient comorbidity status.

RESULTS

The median preoperative albumin value was 4.3 g/dL, which dropped to 3.6 g/dL on postoperative day 1 following TKA. The albumin value returned to 93% of the baseline by postoperative week 2. The course of albumin inversely mirrored the course of CRP (r = -0.41). Median preoperative FAR was 0.087 g/L, which rose to 0.130 g/L by postoperative week 2 and returned to baseline by postoperative week 6. While preoperative FAR strongly correlated with postoperative week 2 values (r = 0.74), there was a weak positive correlation between age-adjusted CCI and pre-operative FAR (r = 0.24) in patients undergoing primary TKA.

CONCLUSION

Albumin levels follow a predictable postoperative decline that inversely correlates with CRP in healthy patients following TKA. Given the low cost and abundance of laboratories offering albumin levels, direct albumin levels and/or albumin ratios such as FAR may be underutilized biomarkers for monitoring the APR following TKA.

Preoperative Serum Albumin Predicts Wound Dehiscence but Not Infection After Surgery for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

PURPOSE

Inadequate nutrition is common in individuals diagnosed with cancer. The present study evaluated the association between preoperative albumin and postoperative complications in otherwise healthy patients presenting with newly diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity primarily managed with ablative surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of patients with newly diagnosed oral squamous cell carcinoma from 2005 to 2019 was performed. Patients referred to and managed by a single surgeon (ERC) and who had not received any nutritional support in the preoperative period were included in the study. The primary predictor variable was preoperative albumin level. Other studied variables were patient demographic data and TNM stage. Complications related to primary ablative surgery represented the primary outcome variable. χ² analysis was completed to assess for significant associations between independent albumin groups (4+, 3.5 to 3.9, and 3.0 to 3.4 g/dL) in relation to postoperative complications. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was completed to control for clinical variables and medical comorbidities when testing the association between albumin and dehiscence.

RESULTS

The patient cohort included 268 individuals; of whom, 154 were men. The average age of the patients at surgery was 63 years. When controlling for all other variables, albumin was the only statistically significant predictor of postoperative dehiscence, P = .005. Patients with albumin of 3.5 to 3.9 g/dL had 3.24 times higher odds of dehiscence (95% confidence interval 1.42 to 7.38) in comparison with participants in the 4+ g/dL group. There was no difference of odds between the 3.0 to 3.4 group and the 4+ reference group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that among those individuals meeting the inclusion criteria, there is a statistically significant association between lower albumin levels and postoperative complication rates, specifically dehiscence.

Perioperative hypoalbuminemia is a risk factor for wound complications following posterior lumbar interbody fusion

Background

Although serum albumin levels are increasingly used as an indicator of nutritional status in the clinic, the relationship between perioperative hypoalbuminemia and wound complications after posterior lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease remains ambiguous. The aim of this study was to evaluate perioperative serum albumin in relation to postoperative wound complications after posterior lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of single-segment lumbar degenerative disease.

Material and methods

We reviewed patients who underwent single-segment posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery from December 2014 to April 2017 in the Department of Orthopedics at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. Perioperative (preoperative and early postoperative) serum albumin levels were assessed in all patients and were used to quantify nutritional status. We divided the patients into a surgical wound dehiscence (SWD) group and a normal wound healing group and into a surgical site infection (SSI) group and a non-SSI group. To evaluate the relationship between perioperative serum albumin level and postoperative wound complications, we conducted univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results

A total of 554 patients were enrolled in the study. The univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis of these differences showed that preoperative serum albumin < 3.5 g/dl (P = 0.001) and postoperative serum albumin < 3.0 g/dl (P = 0.001) were significantly correlated to SWD. There were also significant differences between the SSI groups in terms of preoperative serum albumin < 3.5 g/dl (P = 0.001) and chronic steroid use (P = 0.003). Additionally, the increased hospitalization costs (P < 0.001) and length of hospitalization (P < 0.001) were statistically significant for patients with perioperative hypoalbuminemia.

Conclusions

For patients who underwent single-segment posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery, we need to pay more attention to perioperative hypoalbuminemia and chronic steroid use, which are more likely to be associated with increased wound complications, hospitalization costs, and length of hospitalization after surgery. Adequate assessment and management of these risk factors will help reduce wound complications and hospital stays for surgical patients and will save medical costs.

Early Postoperative Hypoalbuminaemia as a Risk Factor for Postoperative Pneumonia Following Hip Fracture Surgery

Purpose

Postoperative pneumonia is a common and devastating complication of hip fracture surgery in older individuals. This study aimed to determine the relationship between early postoperative hypoalbuminaemia and pneumonia after hip fracture surgery.

Patients and Methods

In this retrospective cohort study conducted at one centre, we reviewed the medical records of 1155 consecutive patients (>60 years) who underwent hip fracture surgery. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent risk factors for postoperative pneumonia. After determining the cut-off value for postoperative serum albumin, the patients were divided into two groups according to the minimum serum albumin level recorded during the first two postoperative days: group A included patients with a minimum serum album level less than 3.0 g/dL and group B included patients with a minimum serum album level of at least 3.0 g/dL. The prevalence of postoperative pneumonia was analysed using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) analyses.

Results

The incidence of postoperative pneumonia following hip fracture surgery was 5.1% (n=59). Age, cardiovascular disease, and early postoperative hypoalbuminaemia during the first two postoperative days were independent risk factors for postoperative pneumonia. Early postoperative hypoalbuminaemia was associated with postoperative pneumonia development in the PSM and IPTW analyses (P = 0.016 and <0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that early postoperative hypoalbuminaemia is an independent risk factor for the development of postoperative pneumonia in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.

Risk Factors for Early Port Infections in Adult Oncologic Patients

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively investigate risk factors for chest port (port) infections within 30 days of placement (early port infections) in adult oncologic patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This single-institution, three-center retrospective study identified 1,714 patients (868 males, 846 females; median age 60.0 years old) who underwent port placement between January 2013 and August 2017. All patients received an intravenous antibiotic prior to port placement. The median absolute neutrophil count was 5,260 cells/μL, the median white blood cell (WBC) count was 7,700 cells/μL, and the median serum albumin was 4.00 g/dL at the time of port placement. Double-lumen ports were most commonly implanted (74.85%) more frequently in an outpatient setting (72.69%). Risk factors for early port infections were elucidated using univariate and multivariate proportional subdistribution hazard regression analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 20 patients (1.2%) had early port infections; 15 patients (0.9%) had positive blood cultures. The mean time to infection was 20 days (range, 9-30 days). The port-related 30-day mortality rate was 0.2% (4 of 1,714 patients). Most bloodstream infections were attributed to Staphylococcus spp. (n = 11). In multivariate analysis, hematologic malignancy (hazard ratio [HR], 2.61; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15-5.92.; P = .02), hypoalbuminemia (albumin <3.5 g/dL; HR, 3.52; 95% CI: 1.48-8.36; P = .004), leukopenia (WBC <3,500 cells/μL; HR, 3.00; 95% CI: 1.11-8.09; P = .03), and diabetes mellitus (HR, 3.71; 95% CI: 1.57-8.83) remained statistically significant risk factors for early port infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Hematologic malignancy, hypoalbuminemia, leukopenia, and diabetes mellitus at the time of port placement were independent risk factors for early port infections.

Risk factors for surgical-site infections after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a study in China

BACKGROUND

About 10% of patients get a surgical-site infection (SSI) after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer, but SSI remains controversial among surgeons. The aim of this study was to explore the risk factors for SSIs after radical gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer to guide clinical therapies and reduce the incidence of SSI.

METHODS

The study was a retrospective cohort study in patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. SSI was defined in accordance with the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System. We evaluated patient-related and peri-operative variables that could be risk factors for SSIs. The Chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis were used to assess the association between these risk factors and SSI.

RESULTS

Among the 590 patients, 386 were men and 204 were women. The mean age was 56.6 (28-82) years and 14.2% (84/590) of these patients had an SSI. Among them, incisional SSI was observed in 23 patients (3.9%) and organ/space SSI in 61 patients (10.3%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified sex (odds ratios [ORs] = 2.548, and 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.268-5.122, P = 0.009), total gastrectomy (OR = 2.327, 95% CI: 1.352-4.004, P = 0.002), albumin level (day 3 after surgery) <30 g/L (OR = 1.868, 95% CI: 1.066-3.274, P = 0.029), and post-operative total parenteral nutrition (OR = 2.318, 95% CI: 1.026-5.237, P = 0.043) as independent risk factors for SSI.

CONCLUSIONS

SSI was common among patients after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The method supporting post-operative nutrition and the duration of prophylactic antibiotics may be important modifiable influencing factors for SSI.

Hypoalbuminemia after pancreaticoduodenectomy does not predict or affect short-term postoperative prognosis

Background

Hypoalbuminemia (HA) is a risk factor for the complications following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). This study aimed to explore the factors that affect HA following PD and evaluate the influence of HA on the short-term postoperative prognosis.

Methods: Total 163 patients who underwent PD and met inclusion criteria were subdivided into two groups according to the status of HA. The relationships of postoperative albumin (ALB) level and exogenous ALB infusion with postoperative responses and complications were assessed by correlation analysis.

Results

Preoperative ALB ≥35.0 g/L and postoperative complication grade were factors influencing HA after PD. Correlation analysis demonstrated significant negative correlation of postoperative ALB level with white blood cell (WBC) count and neutrophil count. Postoperative exogenous ALB infusion positively correlated with blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, complication grade, postoperative intraperitoneal hemorrhage and pancreatic fistula. No significant differences were observed between the complications and30-day mortality rates with and without postoperative HA.

Conclusions

HA after PD should not be considered as an indicator but rather a result of poor prognosis. WBCs, especially neutrophils, are involved in reducing postoperative ALB level. Infusion of exogenous ALB to maintain ALB > 30 g/L could not improve clinical outcomes.

Postoperative Serum Albumin Decrease Independently Predicts Delirium in the Elderly Subjects after Total Joint Arthroplasty

Background:

Postoperative delirium (POD), a neurobehavioral syndrome induced by dysfunction of neural activity, is a common and serious complication. This current study aimed to investigate independent predictors for POD in elderly subjects after total joint arthroplasty (TJA).

Methods:

Eligible elderly patients (≥65 years) who underwent elective unilateral primary hip or knee arthroplasty under epidural anesthesia from October 2016 to January 2019 were consecutively enrolled. POD was diagnosed following the guidance of the 5th edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM V, 2013). The relative change in serum Alb (ΔAlb) was defined as the absolute value of (preoperative Alb value– nadir value within postoperative day 2)/preoperative Alb ×100%. The predictive value of ΔAlb for POD was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used for evaluating risk factors for POD.

Results:

A total of 328 patients were enrolled in the analysis, of which 68 (20.7%, 68/328) patients developed POD within postoperative 7 days. ΔAlb was an effective predictor for POD with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.821, a sensitivity of 76.15% and a specificity of 70.59%, respectively (P<0.001). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that ΔAlb was the only independent risk factor for POD (OR: 2.43, 95%CI: 1.17–4.86, P=0.015).

Conclusions:

ΔAlb was an independent risk factor for POD in elderly subjects after TJA.

Effect of postoperative hypoalbuminemia and supplement of human serum albumin on the development of surgical site infection following spinal fusion surgery: a retrospective study

PURPOSE

To determine the association between postoperative hypoalbuminemia and the development of surgical site infection (SSI) and evaluate whether the supplement of exogenous human serum albumin (HSA) in patients following spinal surgery would decrease the rate of postoperative SSI.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent lumbar spinal fusion surgery in our institution between January 2014 and December 2018. Patients with postoperative SSI were identified. We reviewed the demographic and clinical records of the patients and performed multiple logistic regression models to clarify the relevance between postoperative hypoalbuminemia, the supplement of HSA and SSI. Statistical adjustment for the potential confounders was also performed to exclude possible variation.

RESULTS

Twenty-four of 602 patients developed SSI after lumbar spinal fusion surgery. No statistical significance was found between postoperative hypoalbuminemia and SSI rate (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.22-2.48; P = 0.6199). However, the supplement of exogenous HSA was significantly associated with increased postoperative SSI rate (OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.05-1.41; P = 0.0094). Interestingly, stratified analyses showed supplement of HSA in patients without postoperative hypoalbuminemia increased the risk of SSI (OR 2.55; 95% CI 1.01-6.45; P = 0.0475), compared with patients with postoperative hypoalbuminemia (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.00-1.36; P = 0.0434).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that postoperative hypoalbuminemia is not associated with the development of SSI after spinal surgery. However, the supplement of HSA following spinal surgery will increase the rate of SSI. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Hypoalbuminemia in children with cancer treated with chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Hypoalbuminemia is a well-recognized finding associated with cancer, but its prevalence and prognostic significance have not been well studied in children with cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia prior to starting chemotherapy in children with cancer and its association with relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS).

DESIGN/METHOD

We performed a single institution, IRB-approved, retrospective review of pediatric oncology patients diagnosed between 1998 and 2012. Five-year survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method; groups were compared using Cox regression.

RESULTS

We identified 659 pediatric patients with a first diagnosis of cancer and a serum albumin level prior to starting chemotherapy. Mean age was 8.6 years (SD = 5.8); 62% were male and 92% were non-Hispanic. Hypoalbuminemia prior to starting chemotherapy was present at least once in 302 (45.8%). The five-year RFS and OS of those with hypoalbuminemia and without hypoalbuminemia were not significantly different. However, patients with severe hypoalbuminemia (defined as a value 10% or more below the lower limit of normal) had inferior RFS and OS for patients with hematologic/lymphatic malignancies, and inferior RFS for patients with metstatic Ewing sarcoma.

CONCLUSION

Hypoalbuminemia prior to starting chemotherapy in pediatric oncology patients is common (nearly half in this cohort). Severe hypoalbuminemia was associated with inferior 5-year RFS in some subgroups.

Prognostic significance of albumin levels prior to treatment in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Pre-treatment albumin levels have been shown to have prognostic capacity in oncological patients. The aim of this study is to analyse the relationship between albumin levels and prognosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study in a cohort of 741 patients with HNSCC and a plasmatic albumin testing within the 4weeks prior to the start of treatment. The relationship between disease-specific survival and plasma albumin levels was analysed by a recursive partitioning analysis.

RESULTS

Albumin levels showed a directly proportional and statistically significant association with disease-specific survival. According to the results of the recursive partitioning analysis, the cut-off points with a higher prognostic capacity were 37.5g/L and 46.1g/L. Taking patients with albumin levels >46.1g/L as the benchmark, patients with albumin levels between 37.5-46.1g/L had a 1.44 times higher risk of disease-specific death (95%CI: .95-2.19, P=.081), and patients with levels <37.5g/L had a 3.19 times higher risk (95%CI: 2.01-5.04, P=.0001). The differences in survival based on albumin levels were only seen in patients with advanced stage tumours (stagesIII-IV).

CONCLUSION

Pre-treatment plasmatic albumin is an independent prognostic factor for patients with advanced stage HNSCC (III-IV), 37.5g/L being the cut-off point with the highest prognostic capacity.

Preoperative malnutrition with mild hypoalbuminemia associated with postoperative mortality and morbidity of colorectal cancer: a propensity score matching study

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition with hypoalbuminemia (albumin < 35 g/L) is an important factor in predicting risks associated with colorectal cancer surgery. However, there is limited data about the effects of mild hypoalbuminemia with small decreases in albumin on postoperative complications.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study using the multi-institutional, nationally validated database of the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) to investigate mild hypoalbuminemia and its association with postoperative mortality and morbidity by using a propensity score matching method.

RESULTS

In a group of 30,676 colorectal cancer patients who received surgery, 5230 had mild hypoalbuminemia (< 35 and > =30 g/L) and 21,310 had normal albumin levels (> = 35 g/L). Significant differences were noted in 21 clinical characteristics between the two groups. After 1:2 propensity score matching postoperative mortality was significantly associated with mild hypoalbuminemia (OR = 1.74; p < 0.001). There were significant associations between mild hypoalbuminemia and 11 postoperative morbidities including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, superficial and deep surgical site infection, pneumonia, septic shock, ventilator> 48 h, blood transfusion, return to operating room, stroke and re-intubation. Mild hypoalbuminemia was also associated with overall complication (B = 0.064, p < 0.001) and length of total hospital stay (B = 2.236, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In colorectal cancer, this is the first propensity score matching study of malnutrition with mild hypoalbuminemia which demonstrates that a mild decrease in serum albumin contributes significantly to poor postoperative outcome.

Surgical Site Infection in Head and Neck Surgery: A National Perspective

OBJECTIVES

To examine trend, prevalence, and outcomes of surgical site infection (SSI) in head and neck surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cross-sectional analysis.

SETTING

The Nationwide Readmissions Database (2010-2014), which represents 56.6% of all US hospitalization.

SUBJECTS

Adult patients (≥18 years) who underwent head and neck surgery. Patients with SSI were compared with controls.

METHODS

Analysis included chi-square test and multivariate logistic and linear regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 427 cases and 116,921 controls were identified. SSI prevalence among patients who underwent head and neck surgery was 0.37%, of which 41.0% was reported within the initial admission while the remaining 59.0% was reported on readmission within 30 days of first surgery. SSI was associated with a higher mortality risk (odds ratio, 3.95; 95% CI, 1.25-12.50; P = .019). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a higher risk of SSI was associated with major surgery of the ear, nose and paranasal sinuses, mouth and tonsil, salivary glands and ducts, maxillofacial bones and mandible, and pharynx and larynx (P < .05 each). However, a lower risk of SSI was reported in thyroid and parathyroid and nonmajor procedures (P < .05 each). Other factors associated with a higher risk of SSI included multiple comorbidities, smoking, cancer diagnosis, concomitant neck dissection, and tracheostomy (P < .05 each). SSI was associated with a mean ± SE additional hospital stay of 8.1 ± 0.8 days per case (P < .001) and an additional cost on the health system of $20,953.00 ± $186.3 per case (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

SSI is associated with a significant mortality risk and burden on the health system. More than half of SSI cases were identified on readmission.

Early post-operative serum albumin level predicts survival after curative nephrectomy for kidney cancer: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that albumin-related systemic inflammation is associated with the long-term prognosis of cancer, but the clinical significance of an early (≤ 7 days) post-operative serum albumin level has not been well-documented as a prognostic factor in patients with renal cell cancer.

METHODS

We retrospectively included patients hospitalized for kidney cancer from January 2009 to May 2014. First, the receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to define the best cut-off of an early post-operative serum albumin level in determining the prognosis, from which survival analysis was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 329 patients were included. The median duration of follow-up was 54.8 months. Patients with an early post-operative serum albumin level < 32 g/L had a significantly shorter median recurrence-free survival (RFS; 49.1 versus 56.5 months, P = 0.001) and median overall survival (OS; 52.2 versus 57.0 months, P = 0.049) than patients with an early post-operative serum albumin level ≥ 32 g/L. After adjusting for age, BMI, tumor stage, post-operative hemoglobin concentration, and pre-operative albumin, globulin, and hemoglobin levels, multivariate Cox regression showed that an early post-operative serum albumin level < 32 g/L was an independent prognostic factor associated with a decreased RFS (HR = 3.60; 95% CI,1.05-12.42 [months], P = 0.042) and decreased OS (HR = 9.95; 95% CI, 1.81-54.80 [months], P = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

An early post-operative serum albumin level < 32 g/L is an independent prognostic factor leading to an unfavorable RFS and OS. Prospective trials and further studies involving additional patients are warranted.

Risk factors for cytomegalovirus disease with cytomegalovirus re-activation in patients with rheumatic disease

Objective: To assess risk factors for cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease with CMV re-activation in patients with rheumatic disease.Methods: The clinical data of consecutive patients with rheumatic disease who experienced CMV re-activation were examined. We evaluated the difference in various baseline factors at the first detection of CMV pp65 antigenemia on the development of CMV disease using logistic regression models. The changes of laboratory data in the 4 weeks before CMV re-activation were also assessed.Results: We identified 80 patients (median age [interquartile range] = 65.0 years [51.5-74.0]) with CMV re-activation. Oral candidiasis, serum albumin ≤30 g/L, and CMV pp65-positive cell count >5.6/10⁵ polymorphonuclear leukocyte cells were found to be associated with CMV disease (odds ratio [OR] [95% CI] = 9.99 [2.02-49.50], 11.4 [1.94-67.40] and 6.80 [1.63-28.30], respectively). Moreover, decreases in serum albumin level and blood lymphocyte count in the 4 weeks before CMV re-activation also predicted CMV disease (OR [95% CI] = 2.02 [1.07-3.8] and 1.96 [1.09-3.54], respectively).Conclusion: In CMV re-activation patients with rheumatic disease, the presence of oral candidiasis, high CMV pp65 positive cell count, and hypoalbuminemia are possible risk factors for CMV disease.

Perioperative changes of serum albumin are a predictor of postoperative pulmonary complications in lung cancer patients: a retrospective cohort study

Background

A decrease in serum albumin is commonly observed after lung cancer surgery, however, whether it is associated with postoperative outcomes is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the reduction of serum albumin (ΔALB) on postoperative day one could serve as a predictor of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after thoracoscopic anatomical resection in lung cancer patients.

Methods

Patients characteristics were compared between groups of whether they experienced PPCs or not. The cutoff value of ΔALB was examined by receiver operating characteristic curve to find out the threshold value of ΔALB in predicting PPCs. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify potential risk factors for PPCs.

Results

Totally 533 patients were included into analysis, and among them, 52 experienced PPCs. The ΔALB was significant in the PPCs group than in the non-PPCs group (P<0.001), and ΔALB was observed an independent risk factor for PPCs (OR =2.268, 95% CI: 1.153-4.460). The cutoff value of ΔALB in predicting PPCs was 14.97%. Patients with ΔALB ≥14.97% were more likely to have PPCs (P<0.001).

Conclusions

A reduction of serum albumin with a cut-off value of 14.97% can be served as a predictor to identify patients at high risk of developing PPCs following thoracosopic anatomical lung cancer surgery.

Early decrease in postoperative serum albumin predicts severe complications in patients with colorectal cancer after curative laparoscopic surgery

Background

Postoperative severe complications are always associated with prolonged hospital stays, increased economic burdens, and poor prognoses in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This present study aimed to investigate potential risk factors including serum albumin (Alb) for severe complications in CRC patients.

Methods

Eligible patients with primary CRC undergoing elective laparoscopic colectomy from July 2015 to July 2017 were included. Postoperative severe complications were defined as grade III and IV according to the Clavien–Dindo classification. ∆Alb was defined as (preoperative Alb − nadir Alb within POD2)/preoperative Alb × 100%. The baseline characteristics, intraoperative data, and laboratory data were obtained from the database for the analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were utilized for the assessment of the association between risk factors and postoperative severe complications. The predictive value of ∆Alb for postoperative severe complications was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

A total of 193 patients were finally included in the analysis data set, of which 38 (19.7%) patients had postoperative severe complications. In the final multivariate logistic regression analysis, ∆Alb was the only independent factor associated with postoperative severe complications (OR 1.66, 95%CI 1.18–2.33, p = 0.003). The area under the curve (AUC) of ∆Alb was 0.916, with the sensitivity and specificity of 0.842 and 0.858 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The ∆Alb was an independent risk factor for severe complications in CRC patients after curative laparoscopic surgery.

Scoring System to Predict the Risk of Surgical Site Infection in Patients with Esophageal Cancer after Esophagectomy with Cervical Anastomosis

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infection (SSI) surveillance has become increasingly important during the peri-operative period of esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis (McKeown esophagectomy). This study sought to clarify the risk factors for SSI and to develop a stratification scoring system to predict SSI after esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients who underwent elective esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis were studied between January 2010 and December 2016 in the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital (CAMS). Univariable analysis and multivariable logistic regression were used to screen the independent risk factors. A risk stratification scoring system was developed based on multivariable logistic regression parameters. The model derivation set involved 711 consecutive cases, and the validation set involved 168 consecutive cases.

RESULTS

In the model derivation set, there were 711 patients, of whom 146 were found to have SSI and the incidence rate was 20.53%. Multivariable analysis found that SSI was associated independently with the following adverse risk factors: peripheral vascular disease, prior chest surgery, no pre-operative surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) administration within 120 minutes prior to incision, low serum albumin, and low pre-albumin at post-operative day zero to three, respectively. Each of these factors contributed one point to the risk score and a risk stratification scoring system was established. The SSI rates were increased gradually in the low, intermediate, high, and extremely high-risk groups (p < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was 0.706 for the logistic regression model and 0.704 for the scoring system. In the validation set, the model performed equivalently (AUC = 0.824).

CONCLUSIONS

The validated stratification scoring system could predict accurately the risk of SSI after esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis. This could be helpful in the selection of high-risk patients requiring frequent monitoring and more aggressive interventions to decrease the incidence of SSI.

Retrospective Comparative Study on Postoperative Pulmonary Complications After Orthotopic Liver Transplantation Using the Melbourne Group Scale (MGS-2) Diagnostic Criteria

Background

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) are associated with poor postoperative survival. However, there are no standard criteria for diagnosis of PPCs. This retrospective study aimed to explore the reliability of the Melbourne Group Scale version 2 (MGS-2) for determining PPCs after OLT.

Material/Methods

A total of 121 patients were divided into 3 groups. In the PPC and non-PPC groups, PPCs were determined to be present or absent in accordance with both the MGS-2 and the conventional broad criteria for diagnosis of PPCs; in the potential-PPC group, PPCs were determined to be present only in accordance with the conventional broad criteria. The perioperative risk factors for PPCs and prognosis of patients in potential-PPC group were all compared with non-PPC groups and PPC groups.

Results

The preoperative characteristics of patients in the potential-PPC group were similar to those in non-PPC group. The length of intensive care unit stay (2.26±0.22 vs. 4.75±0.47 days; P=0.017), duration of hospitalization (33.33±1.70 vs. 48.78±2.53 days; P<0.001), and treatment cost (28.01±1.78 vs. 38.35±1.85×10 000 yuan; P=0.018) were significantly less in the potential-PPC group than in the PPC group. Furthermore, in accordance with the MGS-2 criteria for diagnosis of PPCs, patients with PPCs showed poorer overall survival rates than those without (P=0.038).

Conclusions

The MGS-2 appears to be a more suitable and reliable tool for diagnosis of PPCs and to identify the post-OLT patients with poorer perioperative characteristics and prognosis.

Literature Review of Criteria for Defining Recipient-Site Infection after Oral Oncologic Surgery with Simultaneous Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

The lack of uniformity of criteria for defining recipient-site infection after oral oncologic surgery with simultaneous reconstruction is problematic despite numerous studies on this issue. This study aimed to investigate the difference in the criteria for defining recipient-site infection after oral oncologic surgery with reconstruction.

METHODS

A Medline search was performed via PUBMED using the following combinations of key terms that were tagged in the title, abstract, or both: "surgical site infection-head neck," "surgical site infection-oral cancer," "antibiotic prophylaxis-head neck," and "surgical site infection-oral carcinoma." Search results were filtered between 2005 and 2017. Articles in which there was no mention of the criteria for definition of surgical-site infection were excluded.

RESULTS

The number of articles that met the inclusion criteria was 24. The lack of uniformity in the criteria for defining recipient-site infection in each article appeared to be attributable mainly to differences in whether an orocutaneous fistula and superficial incisional infection were regarded as recipient-site infection.

CONCLUSION

Reconsideration of the categorization of orocutaneous fistula as infection, regardless of the etiology, and differentiation of superficial and deep incisional infections are necessary for correct assessment of recipient-site infection in oral oncologic surgery.

Is postoperative decrease of serum albumin an early predictor of complications after major abdominal surgery? A prospective cohort study in a European centre

OBJECTIVE

To test postoperative serum albumin drop (ΔAlb) as a marker of surgical stress response and early predictor of clinical outcomes.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study (NCT02356484). Albumin was prospectively measured in 138 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. Blood samples were collected before surgery and on postoperative days 0, 1 2 and 3. ΔAlb was compared to the modified estimation of physiologic ability and surgical stress (mE-PASS) score and correlated to the performances of C reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and lactate (LCT). Postoperative outcomes were postoperative complications according to Clavien classification and Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI), and length of hospital stay (LoS).

SETTING

Department of abdominal surgery in a European tertiary centre.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery, with anticipated duration ≥2 hours. Patients on immunosuppressive or antibiotic treatments before surgery were excluded.

RESULTS

The level of serum albumin rapidly dropped after surgery. ΔAlb correlated to the mE-PASS score (r=0.275, p=0.01) and to CRP increase (r=0.536, p<0.001). ΔAlb also correlated to overall complications (r=0.485, p<0.001), CCI (r=0.383, p<0.001) and LoS (r=0.468, p<0.001). A ΔAlb ≥10 g/L yielded a sensitivity of 77.1% and a specificity of 67.2% (AUC: 78.3%) to predict complications. Patients with ΔAlb ≥10 g/L on POD 1 showed a threefold increased risk of overall postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Early postoperative decrease of serum albumin correlated with the extent of surgery, its metabolic response and with adverse outcomes such as complications and length of stay. A decreased concentration of serum albumin ≥10 g/L on POD 1 was associated with a threefold increased risk of overall postoperative complications and may thus be used to identify patients at risk.

Impacts of albumin synergized with hydroxyethyl starch on early microvascular albumin leakage after major abdominal surgery in rabbits

PURPOSE

To investigate the impacts of albumin synergized with hydroxyethyl starch (HES) on early microvascular albumin leakage after major abdominal surgery in rabbits.

METHODS

Forty male Japanese rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: the control group, the saline group, the albumin group, and the Syn group (hydroxyethyl starch+albumin). The latter three groups were performed gastrectomy plus resection of pancreatic body and tail and splenectomy. The serum albumin concentration was detected before and 48h after surgery, and the conditions of mesenteric microvascular leakage in these 4 groups were observed under microscope 48 h after surgery to calculate the leakage rate.

RESULTS

Compared with the saline group, the albumin group and the Syn group exhibited significantly increased serum albumin concentrations 48h after surgery (P<0.05). The albumin leakage rate was the most obvious in the albumin group, followed by the saline group, while that in the Syn group was the minimal, and there existed significant differences among these groups (P<0.05) .

CONCLUSION

Simple administration of albumin in the early stage after major abdominal surgery could increase the albumin leakage, while the synergization of albumin and hydroxyethyl starch could reduce the albumin leakage.

Early Postoperative Decrease of Serum Albumin Predicts Surgical Outcome in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Resection

BACKGROUND

A simple and accurate predictor of postoperative complications is needed for early and safe discharge after surgery. A decrease in serum albumin is commonly observed early after surgery, even in patients with normal preoperative levels. However, whether it predicts patient postoperative outcome is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the reduction in serum albumin within 2 postoperative days compared with the preoperative level could serve as an independent predictor of postoperative complications after colorectal surgery.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective study from a single institution.

SETTINGS

The study was conducted in a tertiary referral hospital.

PATIENTS

A total of 626 patients undergoing major colorectal surgery between December 2012 and January 2016 were eligible for this study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for postoperative complications and to identify the factors associated with Δalbumin. Receiver operating characteristic curves were developed to examine the cutoff value of the change in albumin in predicting postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Among all of the patients, the median Δalbumin after surgery was 15%. ΔAlbumin was an independent risk factor for overall complications (p < 0.01). The cutoff value was 15%, and an increased area under the curve compared with C-reactive protein occurred on postoperative day 3 or 4. Patients with a Δalbumin ≥15% experienced more postoperative major complications, a higher comprehensive complication index, a longer postoperative stay, and increased surgical site infections (p < 0.05) than those <15%. ΔAlbumin correlated with sex, type of surgery, stoma creation, C-reactive protein on postoperative day 3 or 4, and intraoperative blood transfusion. Postoperative C-reactive protein remained independently associated with Δalbumin (p < 0.01).

LIMITATIONS

The study was limited by its retrospective nature.

CONCLUSIONS

A cutoff value of a 15% reduction in serum albumin within 2 postoperative days could help to identify patients with a high probability of postoperative complications and permit safe and early discharge after colorectal surgery.

Diagnostic accuracy of the postoperative ratio of C-reactive protein to albumin for complications after colorectal surgery

Background

The ratio of C-reactive protein to albumin, as a novel inflammation-based prognostic score, is associated with outcomes in cancer and septic patients. The diagnostic accuracy of the CRP/albumin ratio has not been assessed in colorectal surgery for postoperative complications.

Methods

A total of 359 patients undergoing major colorectal surgery between 2012 and 2015 were eligible for this study. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for postoperative complications. Receiver operating characteristic curves were developed to examine the cutoff values and diagnostic accuracy of the CRP/albumin ratio and postoperative CRP levels.

Results

Among all the patients, 139 (38.7%) were reported to have postoperative complications. The CRP/albumin ratio was an independent risk factor for complications (OR 4.413; 95% CI 2.463–7.906; P < 0.001), and the cutoff value was 2.2, which had a higher area under the curve compared to CRP on postoperative day 3 (AUC 0.779 vs 0.756). The CRP/albumin ratio also had a higher positive predictive value than CRP levels on postoperative day 3. Patients with CRP/albumin ≥2.2 suffered more postoperative complications (60.8% vs 18.6%, P < 0.001), longer postoperative stays (10 (4–71) vs 7 (3–78) days, P < 0.001), and increased surgical site infections (SSIs) (21.1% vs 4.8%, P < 0.001) than those with CRP/albumin <2.2.

Conclusions

The ratio of C-reactive protein to albumin could help to identify patients who have a high probability of postoperative complications, and the ratio has higher diagnostic accuracy than C-reactive protein alone for postoperative complications in colorectal surgery.