Impact of Preoperative Nutritional Status on Postoperative Outcomes in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Study From Basra Teaching Hospital

Background Malnutrition is associated with adverse events, and nutritional status is a significant determinant of surgical outcomes. Its precise effect on typical postoperative outcomes after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), a common short-stay procedure carried out in a population that is generally healthy, is still up for debate. Objective The primary objective of this investigation was to assess the relationship between the incidence of postoperative pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and length of hospital stay (LOS) and preoperative nutritional status as determined by the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF). Investigating the connections between serum albumin, body mass index (BMI), and the primary outcomes of nutritional status and kidney function was the secondary goal. Methods A total of 140 patients, aged 30 to 60 years, who had elective LC at Basra Teaching Hospital were included in this prospective observational study. Demographic information, laboratory markers like serum albumin, and nutritional assessments using the MNA-SF and BMI were all part of the preoperative evaluations. LOS, PONV incidence, and pain (Visual Analogue Scale) were among the postoperative outcomes that were prospectively documented over 24 hours. To evaluate correlations and associations, statistical analyses were conducted. Results The mean age of the 140 patients was 40.7±8.98 years, and 125 (89.3%) were female. The MNA-SF found that 26 patients (18.6%) were malnourished and 72 patients (51.4%) were at risk of malnutrition. There was no significant correlation found between the MNA-SF score and LOS (p=0.984), PONV (p=0.317), or postoperative pain (p=0.468). On the other hand, a lower incidence of PONV was substantially linked to a higher BMI (p=0.049). There was a significant correlation between lower postoperative systolic (p=0.005) and diastolic (p=0.039) blood pressure and lower preoperative serum albumin levels. Conclusion Although the MNA-SF's overall nutritional screening seems to have little predictive ability for common complications in this non-elderly LC cohort, certain indicators, such as serum albumin and BMI, may be able to help identify patients who are at risk for particular adverse events. These indicators may help guide focused perioperative strategies, as evidenced by the correlations found between lower albumin and a propensity for postoperative hypotension and between higher BMI and lower PONV.