Key result
The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) was the best predictor of postoperative outcome, identifying 83% of patients who developed major complications with a specificity of 73%.
Why the study?
Does the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) predict postoperative complications in patients undergoing major elective abdominal or thoracic surgery?
Cohort (n=57)
Does the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) predict postoperative complications in patients undergoing major elective abdominal or thoracic surgery?
The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) is a more sensitive predictor of major postoperative complications than standard clinical assessment in patients undergoing major elective surgery.
This study evaluated a battery of nutritional measures and pre-operative clinical assessment as predictors of postoperative morbidity. Fifty-seven consecutive patients about to undergo major elective abdominal or thoracic surgery were surveyed. Thirty-two per cent of patients had three or more abnormal measurements of nutritional indices. Thirty patients had a total of 52 complications and in 12 patients these were major. The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), formulated by Mullen, was found to be the best predictor of postoperative outcome. It identified 10 of 12 (83%) patients who subsequently developed major complications with a specificity of 73%. Clinical assessment selected six of the 12 patients who developed major complications.
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Katelaris et al. (1986) conducted a cohort in Major elective abdominal or thoracic surgery (n=57). Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) and clinical assessment was evaluated on Major postoperative complications. The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) was the best predictor of postoperative outcome, identifying 83% of patients who developed major complications with a specificity of 73%.
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