Faculty Collaboration Database

The impact of preoperative anemia and malnutrition on outcomes in paraesophageal hernia repair. Surg Endosc 2018 Nov;32(11):4666-4672

Date

06/24/2018

Pubmed ID

29934871

DOI

10.1007/s00464-018-6311-0

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85048899302 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   8 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients with a paraesophageal hernia may experience gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and/or obstructive symptoms such as dysphagia. Some patients with large and complex paraesophageal hernias unintentionally lose a significant amount of weight secondary to difficulty eating. A subset of patients will develop Cameron's erosions in the hernia, which contribute to anemia. Given the heterogeneous nature of patients who ultimately undergo paraesophageal hernia repair, we sought to determine if patients with anemia or malnutrition suffered from increased morbidity or mortality.

METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program datasets from 2011 to 2015 were queried to identify patients undergoing paraesophageal hernia repair. Malnutrition was defined as preoperative albumin < 3.5 g/dL. Preoperative anemia was defined as hematocrit less than 36% for females and 39% for males. Thirty-day postoperative outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS: A total of 15,105 patients underwent paraesophageal hernia repair in the study interval. Of these patients, 7943 (52.6%) had a recorded preoperative albumin and 13.9% of these patients were malnourished. There were 13,139 (87%) patients with a documented preoperative hematocrit and 23.1% met criteria for anemia. Both anemia and malnutrition were associated with higher rates of complications, readmissions, reoperations, and mortality. This was confirmed on logistic regression. The average postoperative length of stay was longer in the malnourished (6.1 vs. 3.1 days when not malnourished, p < 0.0001) and anemic (4.1 vs. 2.8 days without anemia, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION: Malnutrition and anemia are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing paraesophageal hernia repair, as well as a longer length of stay. This information can be used for risk assessment and perhaps preoperative optimization of these risk factors when clinically appropriate.

Author List

Clark LN, Helm MC, Higgins R, Lak K, Kastenmeier A, Kindel T, Goldblatt M, Gould JC

Authors

Matthew I. Goldblatt MD Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jon Gould MD Chief, Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Rana Higgins MD Associate Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Andrew Sean Kastenmeier MD Associate Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Tammy Lyn Kindel MD, PhD Associate Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Kathleen L. Lak MD Associate Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aged
Anemia
Female
Hernia, Hiatal
Herniorrhaphy
Humans
Length of Stay
Male
Malnutrition
Middle Aged
Postoperative Complications
Reoperation
Risk Adjustment
Risk Factors
United States