Hypoalbuminemia as an Independent Prognostic Risk Factor for Adverse Post Operative Outcomes in an Emergency Laparotomy in Adult Patients

Background:Laparotomies are commonly performed surgeries in an emergency setting.The complications associated with these are a result of the activation of the surgical stress response,the magnitude and duration of which are proportional to the surgical injury.Albumin is an important negative phase reactant. The prevalence of hypoalbuminemia in surgical patients is quite common. Preoperative hypoalbuminemia is an independent risk factor for several adverse outcomes postoperatively, and it is one of the marker for nutritional status of the patient. Low level of albumin is a risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality of the patients. Objective: To study level of serum albumin and its correlation with postoperative morbidity and mortality. Materials and methods: 84 patients in the age group 18-75 years who underwent Emergency laparotomy were studied from March 2018 to April 2020 at GCS Medical College. Effect of hypoalbuminemia was estimated. Study group consisted of albumin level less than 3g/dl and control group of albumin more than 3g/dl. Both groups were studied for post-laparotomy complications and data was analysed. Results: Prevalence of hypoalbuminemia is common in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy. Hypoalbuminemia has strong positive correlation to post-operative adverse outcomes like seroma, wound dehiscence, wound infection, incisional hernia and mortality. Conclusion: Hypoalbuminemia is a significant and effective prognostic risk factor which predicts adverse post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing laparotomy.