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. 2025 Feb 26;10(1):e70107.
doi: 10.1002/lio2.70107. eCollection 2025 Feb.

Hypoalbuminemia and Postoperative Outcomes Following Major Salivary Gland Resection

Praneet C Kaki  1 , Aman M Patel  2 , Jason A Brant  3 , Steven B Cannady  4 , Karthik Rajasekaran  3   4 , Robert M Brody  4   5 , Ryan M Carey  4   5
Affiliations

Hypoalbuminemia and Postoperative Outcomes Following Major Salivary Gland Resection

Praneet C Kaki et al. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. .

Abstract

Objective: Hypoalbuminemia (HA) is a proxy for malnutrition that has been associated with postoperative complications in several surgical subspecialties. This study investigates the association between pre-operative HA and complications following major salivary gland (MSG) resection.

Methods: Patients undergoing outpatient, elective MSG resection were extracted from the 2005 to 2020 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Demographics and comorbidities were compared between HA (preoperative serum albumin < 3.5 g/dL) and non-HA cohorts. To determine associations between albumin status and postoperative complications, univariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results: A total of 5774 patients undergoing MSG resection were included, of which 321 (5.6%) had preoperative HA. HA was associated with older age on univariate analysis (65.2 vs. 60.2 years, p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis found HA to be independently associated with any surgical complication (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.09-3.56, p = 0.019) and length of stay (LOS) ≥ 90th percentile (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.04-2.38, p = 0.032).

Conclusion: Preoperative HA may be a poor prognostic factor associated with an increased risk of surgical complications and prolonged LOS among patients undergoing MSG resection.

Level of evidence: 4.

Keywords: ACS‐NSQIP; head and neck surgery; hypoalbuminemia; major salivary gland; nutrition.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Distribution of preoperative albumin levels.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Frequency of hypoalbuminemia by patient age.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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