Early postoperative serum albumin levels as predictors of surgical outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Early postoperative serum albumin levels as predictors of surgical outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Via Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Apr 9:S1808-8694(21)00063-X. doi: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.03.004. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is a common issue in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and has a negative effect on surgical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: We attempted to determine which malnutrition diagnostic variables can be used as predictors of postoperative complications in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: Forty-one patients undergoing surgery for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were submitted to a prospective evaluation. Biochemical data, anthropometric measurements and evaluation of body composition were used in the nutritional analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (53.6%) developed complications. Serum albumin measured on the first postoperative day was the only variable that significantly differed between groups. A cut-off value of 2.8 g/dL disting uished between patients with a complicated and uncomplicated postoperative course. Normalization of albumin levels occurred more frequently and more rapidly in the noncomplicated group. CONCLUSION: Serum albumin measured on the first postoperative day was the only variable that was a predicter of postoperative complications after major head and neck squamous cell carcinoma surgery. PMID:33875388 | DOI:10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.03.004 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.