Abstract

Background: We analyzed the role of hypoalbuminemia, dialysis, and other risk factors that increase morbidity/ mortality following surgery for primary pyogenic spinal infections (PSIs). The American College of Surgeons’ National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) that included 627 patients was utilized as our database.

Methods: Primary spinal surgery for spondylodiscitis was evaluated in a ACS-NSQIP database involving 627 patients between 2010 and 2019. Outcome assessment included evaluation of 30-day postoperative morbidity, and mortality rates.

Results: Within 30 postoperative days, complications occurred in 14.6% (92/627) of patients; 59 (9.4%) required readmission, and 39 (6.2%) required additional surgery. The most common complications were: wound infections, pneumonia, septic shock, and death (1.8%). Hypoalbuminemia (i.e., significantly associated with unplanned readmission and reoperation), and dialysis were the two major risk factors contributing to increased perioperative morbidity and mortality.

Conclusion: Among 627 ACS-NSQIP patients undergoing primary surgery for PSIs, hypoalbuminemia and dialysis were associated with higher risks of major perioperative morbidity (i.e., within 30 postoperative days – mostly readmissions and reoperations) and mortality.

Keywords: Dialysis, Hypoalbuminemia, Readmission, Reoperation, Spondylodiscitis

INTRODUCTION

Pyogenic spinal infections (PSI) occur in between 0.5 and 2.4/100,000 patient/year.[ 9 ] This incidence will likely increase given the rising prevalence of spine operations performed in an aging population with increased comorbidities including diabetes, renal failure, and intravenous drug use.[ 6 , 7 ] Here, we explored the correlation between hypoalbuminemia and/or dialysis with the incidence of perioperative (i.e., defined as <30 postoperative days) morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing primary surgery for PSIs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study design and criteria

Institutional Review Board exemption was obtained from our institution. We utilized the American College of Surgeons’ National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database looking at 627 patients undergoing primary spine surgery for spondylodiscitis between 2010 and 2019. We looked at a variety of demographics including comorbidities (i.e., diabetes, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure, smoking, chronic steroid use, and dialysis), and 30-day outcomes (i.e., postoperative morbidity and mortality rates using major vs. minor Glassman classification) based on Classification of Diseases 9^th and 10^th codes and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes [ Table 1 ].[ 5 ]

Table 1:

Classification of diseases 9^th and 10^th codes and current procedural terminology codes.

Surgical data

Spine operations were defined as cervical if performed between C0 and C7-T1, thoracic if from T1 to T12-L1, and lumbar if from L1 to the sacrum. Primary outcomes were assessed at 30 postoperative days and included; the evaluation of; 1) major complication rates, 2) wound-complications, 3) mortality rates, 4) unplanned readmissions, 5) reoperations, 6) operative times, and 7) fusion rates.

Preoperative laboratory studies

Preoperative laboratory data included albumin levels, with hypoalbuminemia being defined as <3.5 g/dl.

Statistical analysis

Outcomes were analyzed utilizing univariate analysis based on the demographics, preoperative comorbidities, and other surgical variables. Comparisons were performed using Chi-square tests, Fisher’s exact test, or Student’s t-tests.

RESULTS

The most common comorbidities for 627 patients from the NSQIP database undergoing predominant lumbar followed by cervical spinal surgery included diabetes (27.6%) and COPD (6.5%: smokers 28.4%); [ Table 2 ].

Table 2:

Baseline demographic features.

Minor and major postoperative complications

A total of 71 (11.3%) patients sustained 92 complications within 30 postoperative days; 28 (30.4%) were minor, and 64 (69.5%) were major. The most common complications in descending order were wound infections (n = 23 [3.7%] largely attributed to hypoalbuminemia), pneumonia (n = 20), septic shock (n = 13), cardiac arrest (n = 11), mortality (n-11 (1.7%): highly correlated with dialysis), deep vein thrombosis (n = 10), and urinary tract infection (n = 5) [ Table 3 ].

Table 3:

Multivariate analysis of risk factors for major complications.

Unplanned readmissions

Various factors were associated with readmissions observed in 59 patients (9.4%) within 30 postoperative days. These included hypoalbuminemia, dialysis, smoking, and an ASA of III-IV [ Table 4 ]. Of interest, a median of 14 days (IQR 10–23.5) intervened between surgery and readmission.

Table 4:

Multivariate analysis of risk factors for unplanned readmission.

Unplanned reoperations

There were 39 (6.2%) patients who required spinal reoperations within 30 postoperative days. Patients who were smokers or had hypoalbuminemia were the most likely to require secondary surgery [ Table 4 ].

DISCUSSION

In this study, we analyzed morbidity and mortality rates for 627 patients from the ACS-NSQIP database undergoing surgery for PSI.[ 8 , 9 ] Hypoalbuminemia was significantly associated with a higher risk of total, major, and wound-related complications, whereas dialysis was associated with a higher mortality risk. Prior studies have demonstrated albumin’s role in the healing process and how hypoalbuminemia highly correlates with greater risks for wound-related complications [ Table 5 ].[ 1 , 2 , 6 , 11 , 12 ] Specifically, Schoenfeld et al. analyzed 5887 patients who underwent spinal fusion surgery through a NSIQP database and found that patients’ age, ASA more than 2, high BMI, and poor nutritional status increased the risk of complications and mortality. Other studies also showed a positive correlation between patients on dialysis and higher mortality rates with spine surgery.[ 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]

Table 5:

Summary studies regarding hypoalbuminemia and dialysis as risk factors for complications and mortality.

Postoperative complication leading to higher reoperation rates

Postoperative complications and adverse events in spine surgery are associated with higher morbidity, reoperation rates, and greater health-care costs.[ 5 ] We found that smoking was significantly associated with higher reoperation rates, a finding consistent with the previous literature.[ 1 , 2 ] There was also a significant association between hypoalbuminemia and both reoperations and unplanned readmissions; again, a finding w consistent with prior studies.[ 1 , 6 ] Phan et al.,[ 11 ] in an ACS-NSIQP study of 2410 patients undergoing elective posterior lumbar fusion, found significantly higher unplanned readmission rates, hospital length of stay, and perioperative complications for patients with hypoalbuminemia.

CONCLUSION

Hypoalbuminemia was associated with a higher risk of major and wound-related complications whereas dialysis was associated with a higher mortality rate for patients undergoing primary spine surgery for spondylodiscitis.

Declaration of patient consent

Institutional Review Board (IRB) permission obtained for the study.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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