J. Talati  ( Department of Surgery, The Aga Khan University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Karachi. )
M. Shameem  ( Department of Surgery, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi. )
M. Khurshid  ( Department of Pathology, The Aga Khan University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Karachi. )

Thirteen nutritional parameters viz body mass index (BMI), mid arm circumference (MAC), mid calf circumference (MCC), triceps skin fold thickness (TST), abdominal skin fold thickness (ASFT), abdominal girth at umbilicus (AG U), haemoglobin (Hb), total leucocytes count (WBC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), serum proteins (Prot.), serum albumin (AIb), serum total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and serum iron (Fe) were estimated in 52 (36 male and 16 female) consecutive patients admitted to a surgical service at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi. Nine males and one female developed surgical infections whilst the wounds of 27 males and 15 females healed by primary intent. There was a significant difference in the values of BMI, MCC, ASFT, Prot., and AIb between the patients with infected and clean wounds. Whilst MCC was significantly dif­ferent, MAC was not as good a differentiator. Whilst Prot. and AIb were lower in the infected group, BMI, MCC, TST, ASFT were higher in the patients whose wounds healed by primary intent (JPMA 38:3, 1988).

Malnutrition and obesity both affect the outcome of surgical operations. Malnutrition impairs wound healing¹ and immunocompe­tence^2,3 and consequently encourages surgical infections. A variety of measurements can be used to quantitate nutritional status. These have been described earlier⁴. The present study was undertaken to deter­mine which of the nutritional parameters best predict infections.

Fifty Two consecutive patients (36 male, 16 female) admitted for surgery to one surgical ward at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital were nutri­tionally assessed. Postoperative followup was done to determine the incidence of wound infec­tion, urinary infections and occurrence of peri­tonitis. The most frequent admitting diagnoses were cholelithiasis, appendicitis, Hernia, Hy­drocoele, accidental wounds and miscellaneous. Ages ranged from 10—90 years of age (average age 35.3 years). The majority were in the lower middle class income group. The income was known in 35 patients, averaged Rs. 1516 per month and ranged from Rs. 400—5,000 per month. Nutritional assessment included parameters mentioned in Table I.

The Body Mass Index was calculated from the height in meters (M) measured by a vertical extension rod and the weight in kg (by a beam balance) from the formula BMI = Wt in kg/(ht in m)2. The triceps skin fold thickness was measured by calipers, 2 cm below a fold of skin lifted off the middle of the triceps. Abdominal skin fold thickness was measured below the umbilicus. Abdominal girth at umbilicus was measured with the patient supine. The mid arm circumference was measured with the arm hanging loosely by the side whilst the patient was sitting. Maximal calf circumference was taken carefully at right angles to the thin. The Hb, leucocyte count (WBC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALE), serum proteins, albumin (TIBC) and serum iron were also determined. The wounds were inspected at the time of removal of sutures or earlier if the patient was pyrexial. Erythema around silk sutures was not considered infection whilst a stitch abscess or any discharge or coilection of pus was noted. Urinary tract infection and peritonitis were also consi­dered as infections for the purpose of the study. Of 52 patients examined 42 had no infection (27 male, 15 female) and 10 ( 9 male, 1 female) developed post-operative infection.

The results are noted in Table II (for the entire group),


Table III (Anthropometric measure­ment),

Table IV (Biochemical measurements) and

Table V (Total leucocytes count and ALC). Applying the student test, statistically significant differences were noted for BMI, MCC, 1ST and ASFT (Table III), S. Prot. and Albumin (Table IV) but not for ALC or TIBC.

Assessment of various nutritional para­meters can indicate to the surgeon the patients who stand a higher risk of infection, morbidity from anastomotic and wound breakdown and mortality. Nutritional assessment should, there­fore, form a part of assessment of all patients scheduled for major surgery, specially so for bowel anastomoses and reconstructive surgery. From the plethora of nutritional assessment parameters it is advisable to select the few that should be assessed to predict mortality and morbidity. This will minimise the number of investigations, costs and time utiisa­tion. From an earlier study, we expect 41% males and 38% females to be undernourished (by BMI standards). We, therefore, feel that BMI should be measured (though others feel that moTbidity and mortality are not correlated to BMI), specially as weight always has to be measured for drug dosage calculations, and the only addi­tional parameter to be measured is the height. This can be measured by the extended vertical beam attached to weighing scales. The other parameters showing significant difference between infected and clean patients are listed in Table II — IV. Surprisingly arm measure­ments which estimate muscle bulk were not predi­ctors whilst calf muscles measurements were. Poor arm muscle development may reflect the lack of recreational exercise due to lack of time in a population known for working simultaneously at two occupations. Calf muscles automatically develop in a population which needs to walk long distances in the absence of organised public transport. In addition to the many nutritional parameters assessed (Table II) serum transferrin and allergy to skin test allergens have been reported as useful predictors of successful outcome of operations. Facilities for estimation of serum transferrin were not available and are not likely to be available in most hospitals in Pakistan. However, serum transferrin levels correlate well with the total iron binding capacity (TIBC). We, therefore, estimated TIBC and serum iron levels; neither were significantly different in the two groups of patients. Skin test allergens were also not available. We have not estimated skin test allergy as the only easily available antigen was tuberculin and most of our population have been exposed to it. A combined allergy to candida, streptokinase-streptodonase (SKSD) or Trichophy­ton antigen could indicate a grave prognosis. Serum proteins and albumin are good predictors. Whilst a low BMI indicates a poor nutrition and susceptibility to infection. Of 5 patients with low BMI, only one patient sustained infection (peritonitis) for which there were other precipitat­ing causes. Patients with BMI as low as 14.8 and 16.45 did not get infected. The total leucocytes (TLC) and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) were no different in the two groups. One patient had an ALC of 350/cumm. He showed no infection. His albumin level was 4.0 g/dl and BMI 20.44. Amongst the patients with infection 3 had an ALC of below 2000. Five patients had as BMI above normal (Table VI).

Of the 6 patients with a serum albumin below 3 g/dl only one patient developed an in­fection and, of all the patients with infection, only one patient had an albumin level below 3.0 g and 3 patients an albumin level under 3.5 g (Table VI). Thus parameters in isolation are not predic­tors of infection (many patients with low DM1 or low serum albumin have remained uninfected). Much depends upon an interaction of the various factors, including variables such as extent of wound contamination. We hypothesize that this socio-econo­mically deprived group of patients has been ex­posed to multiple environmental immunological challenges from early life. This exposure to unhygienic water supply and their development, as children, in the foetid environment of over- flowing gutters has primed their immune system to respond effectively and efficiently to bacterial antigenic challenge.

1. Daley, J.M., Vars, H.M. and Dudrick, SJ. Effects of protein depletion on strength of colonic anastomosis. Surg. Gynaecol. Obstet., 1972; 134:15.
2. Haffejee, A.A., Angorn. l.B., Brian, P2., Duursma, J., and Baker, L.W. Diminished cellular immunity due to impaire nutrition in oesoph­ageal carcinoma. Br. J. Surg., 1978; 65: 480.
3. Law, D.K., Dudrick, S. J. and Abdou, NJ. The effects of protein-calorie malnutrition on immune competence of the surgical patient. Surg. Gynecol. Obstet., 1974; 139 :257.
4. Talati, J., Drago, P., Zafar, A., Najamul Hasan, N. Low Cost Nutritional Assessment in Third World Countries. JPMA., 1987; 37:86-89.