Title: Hypoalbuminemia is an Important Risk Factor for Surgical Wound Healing
Authors: Dr Harekrishna Majhi, Dr Pramit Ballav Panigrahi, Dr Abinasha Mohapatra, Srimanta Mahapatra
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i11.160
Abstract
Introduction: This retrospective study used serum albumin as the only indicator of nutritional status for patients who are admitted for elective or emergency surgery. Serum albumin level is affected by insulin, thyroid hormones, inflammatory cytokines, hypermetabolism, malabsorption, intravascular volume overload. If the deficit factors could be identified and corrected in pre-operative period, the chances of wound healing related complications (like wound infection, wound dehiscence, and anastomotic leak) will be reduced.
Aim: To study effect of serum albumin level in abdominal wound healing and related complications like wound infection, wound dehiscence and anastomotic leak.
Materials and Methods: The study is conducted in surgery department, V.S.S. institute of medical science and research, Sambalpur, Odisha. A total of 150 patients were studied over a period of 5 months and were evaluated for serum albumin and the wound related complications.
Results: Hypoalbuminemics are more prone to develop wound related complications than normoalbuminemics.
Conclusion: Serum albumin levels can be considered to be one of the best predictors for the wound related complications.
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