Low Serum Albumin Levels Related to Increased Risks Post Cardiac Surgery

Written By : Jacinthlyn Sylvia |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2024-02-22T19:00:54+05:30 | Updated On 23 Feb 2024 10:30 AM IST

A recent meta-analysis unveiled a significant correlation between preoperative serum albumin levels and postoperative outcomes following cardiac surgery. The findings were published in the Surgery Today journal which explored the critical role of serum albumin in predicting patient survival and complication rates.

This study encompassed data from twenty separate studies involving over 22,000 patients who underwent cardiac surgery and compared the outcomes between the individuals with normal serum albumin levels and the individuals with hypoalbuminemia. Hypoalbuminemia (low serum albumin levels) was found to be the concerning risk factor for adverse postoperative events.

The key findings from the meta-analysis revealed that patients with hypoalbuminemia underwent a substantially elevated risk of long-term all-cause mortality when compared to those with normal levels of albumin. The hazard ratio for serious long-term mortality was recorded at 1.95 with a corresponding risk ratio of 1.91 for increased mortality that highlights the gravity of this relationship.

The hypoalbuminemia patients were found to be more susceptible to postoperative complications, including bleeding, infections and renal injury. These complications not only posed immediate health risks but also prolonged the recovery times, as indicated by longer stays in the intensive care unit and overall hospitalization periods.

The findings of this study highlighted the need for adjusted perioperative serum albumin levels and targeted treatment strategies for high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Addressing hypoalbuminemia preemptively can help clinicians reduce the increased risks of mortality and postoperative complications by improving patient outcomes and survival rates. Further exploration and implementation of customized interventions could enable healthcare providers to enhance the safety and efficacy of cardiac procedures for patients undergoing cardiovascular challenges.

Reference:

Xu, R., Hao, M., Zhou, W., Liu, M., Wei, Y., Xu, J., & Zhang, W. (2022). Preoperative hypoalbuminemia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis. In Surgery Today (Vol. 53, Issue 8, pp. 861–872). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-022-02566-9

Source : Surgery Today

Jacinthlyn Sylvia

Neuroscience Masters graduate

Jacinthlyn Sylvia, a Neuroscience Master's graduate from Chennai has worked extensively in deciphering the neurobiology of cognition and motor control in aging. She also has spread-out exposure to Neurosurgery from her Bachelor’s. She is currently involved in active Neuro-Oncology research. She is an upcoming neuroscientist with a fiery passion for writing. Her news cover at Medical Dialogues feature recent discoveries and updates from the healthcare and biomedical research fields. She can be reached at editorial@medicaldialogues.in

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751