Serum albumin and body weight as predictors of postoperative course in colorectal cancer.

The influence of preoperative serum albumin and percent ideal body weight on postoperative outcome was examined in 83 patients operated upon for colorectal cancer. Compared to patients with normal preoperative body weight and serum albumin, the following were noted: 1) those with low serum albumins had increased rates of complications (p < 0.02) and deaths (p < 0.02); 2) complications were increased in obese patients (p < 0.02); and 3) those with two nutritional abnormalities had increased rate of complications (p < 0.05) and deaths (p < 0.01). The group at highest risk, those with both low body weight and decreased serum albumin, had a complication rate of over 70% and a mortality rate of 42%.