Objectives: Hypoalbuminemia has been used as a proxy for poor nutrition, and has been associated with poor postoperative outcomes in varying surgical procedures. This study investigates the association between albumin status and complications following transcervical Zenker diverticulectomy.
Study design: Retrospective database review.
Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for patients who underwent transcervical Zenker diverticulectomy between 2005 and 2018. Univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted to determine associations between albumin status and postoperative complications.
Results: 318 patients undergoing transcervical Zenker diverticulectomy with available albumin values were queried. The mean serum albumin was 3.90 g/dL (SD = 0.56). Univariate analysis showed that hypoalbuminemia was associated with increased age (77.68 vs. 70.03 years) and female gender (54.4% vs. 45.6%), as well as sepsis (p = 0.045), reintubation (p = 0.040), urinary tract infection (p = 0.017), any medical complication (p < 0.001), any life-threatening complication (p = 0.017), and mortality (p = 0.012). Multivariable analyses found no associations between hypoalbuminemia and mortality (OR 33.136, 95% CI N/A, p = 1.000), any medical complication (OR 1.154, 95% CI 0.326-4.079, p = 0.824), any life-threatening complication (OR 0.604, 95% CI 0.079-4.586, p = 0.604), and length of stay (p = 0.249).
Conclusions: This study suggests no association between hypoalbuminemia and postoperative complications in transcervical Zenker diverticulectomy. Hypoalbuminemia and malnutrition may not be a contraindication for surgery correcting Zenker diverticulectomy.
Level of evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 133:1402-1408, 2023.
Keywords: Zenker diverticulectomy; head and neck surgery; hypoalbuminemia; transcervical.
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