Correlation of serum albumin level on postoperative day 2 with hospital length of stay in patients undergoing emergency surgery for perforated peptic ulcer

BACKGROUND: Perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) is a common emergency surgical condition and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. While advances in surgical techniques have improved outcomes for patients with PPU, many factors still affect postoperative hospital stay and overall prognosis. One potential factor is the serum albumin (SA) level, a widely utilized marker of nutritional status that has been associated with length of stay and complications in various surgical procedures. AIM: To clarify the correlation of SA level on postoperative day 2 with hospital length of stay (HLOS) in patients undergoing emergency surgery for perforated peptic ulcer (PPU). METHODS: We retrospectively collected and analyzed clinical baseline data, including blood routine and SA levels, of patients who underwent emergency PPU surgery and postoperative treatment at the Lingnan Hospital, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between December 2012 and September 2021. Patients were grouped according to HLOS with 7 d as the cut-off value, and relevant indicators were analyzed using SPSS 26.0. RESULTS: Of the 37 patients undergoing emergency surgery for PPU referred to our department, 33 had gastric and 4 had duodenal ulcer perforation. The median HLOS was 10 d. There were 8 patients in the ≤ 7-d group (median HLOS: 7 d) and 29 patients in the > 7-d group (median HLOS: 10 d). The ≤ 7-d group had markedly higher SA on postoperative day 2 than the > 7-d group (37.7 g/L vs 32.6g/L; P < 0.05). The SA level on postoperative day 2 was a protective factor for patients with HLOS > 7 d (Odds ratio = 0.629, P = 0.015). The cut-off of SA on postoperative day 2 was 30.6g/L, with an area under the curve of 0.86 and a negative predictive value of 100% for the prediction of HLOS ≤ 7 d. CONCLUSION: The SA level on postoperative day 2 was associated with the HLOS in patients undergoing emergency surgery for PPU. The pre- and post-operative albumin levels should be monitored, and infusion of human SA should be considered in a timely manner.