Abstract:
Introduction: Malnutrition significantly impacts postoperative outcomes in patients
undergoing emergency laparotomy. Despite advances in surgical care, the role of
preoperative nutritional parameters in predicting surgical outcomes remains crucial.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at B.M.Patil College
,Hospital and Research Center, Vijayapura, from April 2023 to March 2025. 83
patients undergoing emergency laparotomy were included. Preoperative serum
albumin, prealbumin, transferrin levels, and BMI were measured. Primary outcomes
included postoperative complications, mortality, and length of hospital stay.
Results: Low albumin levels (<2.5 mg/dl) were significantly associated with wound
infection rates (77.8%, p<0.001). Transferrin levels <160 mcg/dl correlated with
increased mortality (18.9%, p=0.04). Higher BMI was associated with increased
mortality (p=0.007). ROC curve analysis showed BMI as the strongest predictor of
mortality (AUC=0.735). Wound infection occurred in 48.2% of cases, with overall
mortality rate of 9.6%.
Conclusion: The findings emphasized the importance of comprehensive nutritional
assessment in emergency surgical patients for risk stratification and outcome
prediction.
