Preoperative Electrolyte Status of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma on undergoing Surgery Patients in a tertiary level Hospital/Dental College Hospital

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a major global health concern, particularly in developing countries where risk factors such as tobacco use, betel nut chewing, and poor nutrition are prevalent (p. 1). While the clinical and pathological aspects of OSCC have been widely studied, less attention has been given to preoperative biochemical markers such as electrolyte levels, which play a vital role in cellular function and overall homeostasis (p. 1). Electrolyte imbalances in cancer patients can affect surgical outcomes, recovery, and prognosis. Objective: This study aims to assess the preoperative electrolyte status of OSCC patients and determine any significant changes in electrolyte levels during the preoperative period. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Dhaka Dental College Hospital, Bangladesh, from June 2022 to June 2023 (p. 1). A total of 93 OSCC patients were included using a purposive consecutive sampling technique (p. 1). Preoperative blood samples were collected on Day-1 and Day-3, and electrolyte levels (sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium) were analyzed using standard laboratory protocols (p. 1). Data were processed using SPSS version 23.0, and statistical comparisons were made using unpaired t-tests. Results: The mean age of the patients was \(55.51 ± 8.44\) years, with a male predominance (53.76%) (p. 1). Most patients (76.34%) had a BMI below \(18.5 kg/m^2\), indicating a high prevalence of undernutrition (p. 1). The most common habit associated with OSCC was betel nut chewing (51.61%), followed by betel nut with tobacco use (39.78%) (p. 1). Electrolyte analysis showed stable sodium (\(138.56 ± 2.25 mmol/L\) to \(138.27 ± 2.21 mmol/L\), \(p=0.354\)), potassium (\(4.16 ± 0.50 mmol/L\) to \(4.14 ± 0.49 mmol/L\), \(p=0.775\)), calcium (\(8.84 ± 0.43 mg/dL\) to \(8.82 ± 0.47 mg/dL\), \(p=0.753\)), and magnesium (\(1.94 ± 0.27 mg/dL\) to \(1.96 ± 0.31 mg/dL\), \(p=0.627\)) levels between Day-1 and Day-3, with no statistically significant changes (\(p>0.05\)) .Conclusion: The study indicates that OSCC patients maintain stable electrolyte levels in the preoperative period despite high rates of malnutrition (p. 1). These findings suggest that while electrolyte imbalances are not common, nutritional status should be carefully monitored (p. 1). Further research is needed to explore the long-term impact of electrolyte levels on surgical and oncological outcomes in OSCC patients.