Year: 2026 | Month: June | Volume: 16 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 84-91
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260609
Prospective Observational Study of Preoperative Nutritional Status and Its Impact on Postoperative Morbidity in General Surgical Patients
Deep Abhimanyu Tarkase1, Avinash Babruwan Dhumal2
1Junior Resident, 2Assistant Professor,
Department of General Surgery, Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundations Medical College & Hospital, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India
Corresponding Author: Deep Abhimanyu Tarkase
ABSTRACT
Background: Preoperative nutritional status is an important determinant of postoperative outcomes in surgical patients. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of preoperative nutritional status on postoperative morbidity among general surgical patients by assessing nutritional status before surgery, comparing postoperative outcomes between well-nourished and malnourished patients, and examining the association between nutritional parameters and specific postoperative complications.
Materials and Methods: This prospective observational cohort study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery at a tertiary care teaching hospital over a period of 12 months. A total of 200 adult patients undergoing elective and emergency general surgical procedures were enrolled. Preoperative nutritional assessment was performed using Body Mass Index (BMI), serum albumin, hemoglobin concentration, and total lymphocyte count (TLC). Patients were categorized as well-nourished or malnourished based on predefined nutritional criteria. Postoperatively, patients were followed during their hospital stay for the development of complications. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test and independent Student’s t-test, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: Of the 200 patients studied, 79 (39.5%) were malnourished and 121 (60.5%) were well-nourished. Overall postoperative morbidity was observed in 59 (29.5%) patients and was significantly higher among malnourished patients compared to well-nourished patients (48.1% vs. 17.4%; OR=4.41, p<0.001). Patients who developed postoperative complications had significantly lower mean BMI, serum albumin levels, hemoglobin concentrations, and TLC than those without complications (p<0.001). Malnourished patients demonstrated significantly higher rates of surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, respiratory complications, prolonged ileus, and prolonged hospital stay. Hypoalbuminemia, low BMI, anemia, and lymphocytopenia were significantly associated with specific postoperative complications.
Conclusion: Preoperative malnutrition is a significant predictor of postoperative morbidity in general surgical patients. Routine nutritional assessment and timely nutritional optimization may help reduce postoperative complications, shorten hospital stay, and improve overall surgical outcomes.
Key words: Preoperative nutritional status. Postoperative morbidity. Malnutrition in surgical patients.