Retrospectively analysis to evaluate the effect of perioperative use of albumin on the prognosis of elderly patients with oral cancer resection.

A total of 217 elderly patients (age>65 years) who underwent radical resection of oral cancer and autologous skin flap reconstruction were selected in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital from January 2014 to December 2018. They were divided into two groups according to whether albumin was used during perioperative period: the Control group (n = 82) and the Albumin group (n = 135) . Perioperative blood transfusion volume, fluid transfusion volume, serum albumin level on the third postoperative day, the incidence of local and systemic complications, and duration of hospital stay were compared between the two groups. SPSS 20.0 software was used for the statistical analysis.

The volume of perioperative crystal fluid infusion was significantly reduced in the Albumin group [ (3753.8 ± 286.6) mL] compared with the Control group [ (4657.3 ± 326.8) mL, t = 98.3, P<0.001]. The serum albumin level of patients in the Albumin group [ (30.5 ± 4.3) g/L] was significantly higher than that of the Control group [ (26.6 ± 4.8) g/L] on the third day after surgery [t = -4.04, P<0.001]. Compared with the Control group (26.8%) , the incidence of postoperative local complications in the Albumin group (12.0%) was significantly reduced (χ² = 8.91, P = 0.003) . Compared with the Control group [ (16.5 ± 6.4) d], the postoperative hospital stay in the Albumin group [ (13.7 ± 4.9) d] was significantly shorter [t = 4.48, P<0.001].

The perioperative albumin support therapy for the elderly patients with oral cancer resection and flap reconstruction was an effective therapy to reduce the postoperative complications and duration of hospital stay, and facilitate enhanced recovery after surgery.