Risk Factors Associated with Surgical Site Infection in Emergency Abdominal Surgery in the Elderly Patients

Abstract

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a major source of morbidity after emergency abdominal surgery in elderly patients. We retrospectively reviewed 165 patients over 80 years old, who had undergone emergency abdominal surgery at Ohta Nishinouchi General Hospital between April 2003 and March 2009, in whom we investigated the occurrence of SSI, and evaluated the risk factors for SSI. The significant variables identified by univariate analyses were serum albumin, creatinine and procedure of ostomy. Multivariate analyses identified an ostomy procedure as an independent risk factor of SSI. We should consider the potential of a higher occurrence rate of SSI if the an ostomy procedure is performed in elderly patients.