ArticleThe Laryngoscope2025
Preoperative Hypoalbuminemia Predicts 30-day Complications in Head and Neck Microvascular Surgery.
Article in The Laryngoscope, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Development and internal validation of a prediction model for early anastomotic leak after minimally invasive esophagectomy: a prospective cohort study.Annals of medicine · 2026Article
- Identification of Important Risk Factors for Hypoproteinemia in Polycystic Ovaries Patients.International journal of women's health · 2026Article
- Understanding Risk in Emergent Reconstructive Flap Surgery.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2025Article
- Liver Disease Predicts 30-Day Postoperative Complications in Head and Neck Microvascular Surgery.The Laryngoscope · 2025Article
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6 authors.
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Abstract
introductionHypoalbuminemia, a marker for poor nutritional status, has been associated with postoperative complications, including head and neck cancer surgery. This study investigates the impact of hypoalbuminemia on head and neck microvascular free tissue transfer reconstruction.
methodsThis retrospective cohort study queried the 2005-2021 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program databases. Reconstructive cases performed by otolaryngologists (CPT: 15756, 15757, 15758, 15842, 20955, 20956, 20957, 20962, 20969, 20970, 20972, 20973, 43116, 43496, 49006, and 49906) with available preoperative albumin, BMI, and age were included. Hypoalbuminemia was defined as a preoperative albumin <3.5 g/dL. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were performed.
resultsA total of 3,886 cases met the inclusion criteria, of which 835 (21.5%) had hypoalbuminemia. The hypoalbuminemia cohort was older, had lower BMI, had higher ASA classification, and had worse functional health status. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression showed that hypoalbuminemia was associated with unplanned return to the operating room within 30 days (OR: 1.36, p < 0.01), unplanned reoperation (OR: 1.36, p < 0.01), any complication (OR: 1.77, p < 0.01), surgical complications (OR: 1.94, p < 0.01), and medical complications (OR: 1.34, p = 0.01). Hypoalbuminemia was correlated with a longer hospital stay, superficial surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, transfusion, deep vein thrombosis, and acute renal failure.
conclusionHypoalbuminemia is a risk factor for postoperative complications after microvascular free tissue transfer for head and neck reconstruction. This study suggests that preoperative optimization of hypoalbuminemia may be beneficial for these patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 135:648-656, 2025.
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