C-reactive Protein/Albumin Ratio Predicts Short-term Postoperative Outcomes and Intraabdominal Abscess Formation in Colorectal Perforation

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate preoperative factors, including the C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio (CAR), associated with postoperative outcomes in patients with colorectal perforation who underwent emergency surgery to improve postoperative prognosis.

Methods: Twenty-eight consecutive patients who underwent emergency surgery for colorectal perforations were included. We retrospectively investigated the clinical factors associated with their postoperative outcomes.

Results: The median patient age was 69.5 years (range, 46.0-93.0 years); 13 patients (46.4%) were males and 15 (53.6%) were females. Colorectal cancer (8 [28.6%]) was the most common cause of colorectal perforation. Postoperative complications were diagnosed in 18 patients (64.3%), with intraabdominal abscess as the most common (6 [21.4%]). Multivariate analysis revealed that CAR (odds ratio, 1.357; 95% confidence interval, 1.056-1.743; p=0.017) was an independent risk factor for postoperative complications. A cutoff value of 4.9 was selected to predict the development of postoperative complications based on the CAR. The proportion of all postoperative complications (p=0.016), postoperative complications of Clavien-Dindo classification grade II or higher (p=0.002), and death during hospitalization (p=0.049) were significantly higher in the group of patients with CAR ≥ 4.9 than in those with CAR < 4.9. Additionally, intraabdominal abscess (p=0.049) was significantly higher in the group of patients with a non-improvement in CAR on postoperative day 3 than in those with an improvement in CAR on postoperative day 3.

Conclusions: Perioperative CAR could be a predictor of perioperative complications and death and might be useful in improving the postoperative prognosis of colorectal perforations.