Abstract

The aim of study was to assess the post-operative morbidity with relation to pre-operative albumin status, in patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. Material & Methods: In this hospital based observational study, 100 patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery at Department of General Surgery, Mamata Academy of Medical Sciences, Bachupally were included. Hypoalbuminemia was diagnosed if serum albumin level was less than 3.5 gm/dl. Types of surgery and postoperative complications were included in the study. Any association between preoperative serum albumin level and postoperative morbidity was assessed. Study period was of 2 years. Pre-operatively, 50 patients had hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin <3.5 g/dl) and 50 patients had normal albumin levels (≥3.5 g/dl). Results: Of the 100 patients studied, 65% were male and 35% were female. Pre-operatively, 50 patients had hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin <3.5 g/dl) and 50 patients had normal albumin levels (≥3.5 g/dl). Most of the patients belonged to 38-57 years in the present study. The most common indication for emergency abdominal surgery was peptic ulcer perforation 35 (35%), followed by acute intestinal obstruction 30 (30%). Surgical site infection was commonest complication found in 29 (29%) cases. Wound dehiscence was found in 11 (11%) cases. Mean length of hospital stay was found to be higher i.e. 8.72±5.60 days in patients with hypoalbuminemia, compared to 7.35±4.16 days with those having albumin level ≥3.5 g/dl.

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