The combined risk predictive power of frailty and hypoalbuminemia in free tissue flap reconstruction: A cohort study of 34,571 patients from the NSQIP database.
Adriana C PanayiLeonard KnoedlerDany Y MatarJasmin RühlSarah FriedrichValentin HaugAlen PalackicBenjamin ThomasUlrich KneserDennis P OrgillGabriel HundeshagenPublished in: Microsurgery (2024)
In conclusion, this cohort study highlights the association of hypoalbuminemia with adverse postoperative outcomes, including those not directly related to frailty. Simultaneously, higher mFI scores independently predicted outcomes not associated with hypoalbuminemia. Stemming from these findings, we recommend considering both serum albumin levels and frailty in patients receiving FFR. This perioperative algorithm may help provide more individualized planning including multidisciplinary care and pre and posthabilitation.