Prognostic Nutritional Index Predicts Short-Term Postoperative Outcomes After Bowel Resection for Crohn's Disease

Background: Bowel resection is required in the majority of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) during their lifetime. The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) is a useful tool for predicting postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing cancer surgery. We examined the ability of the PNI to predict short-term outcomes in patients with CD-related bowel resection. Materials and Methods: Seventy-three patients who underwent bowel resection for CD were retrospectively enrolled in the study. The PNI was calculated as follows: 10 x serum albumin (g/dL) + 0.005 x total lymphocyte count (per mL). Patients were divided into 2 groups: PNI <40 (n = 30) and PNI 40 (n = 43). Results: A significant difference was found in body mass index (17.9 +/- 2.4 vs 19.2 +/- 2.2, P = .018) between the 2 groups. Postoperative overall and infectious complications occurred more frequently in patients with PNI <40 than in those with PNI 40 (50.0% and 46.7% vs 23.3% and 16.3%, P = .018 and P = .005, respectively). In the univariate analysis, body mass index <18.5, penetrating behavior, open surgery, and PNI <40 were associated with an increased risk of overall complications and infectious complications. In the multivariate analysis, only PNI <40 was an independent prognostic factor for infectious complications (odds ratio: 3.846, 95% confidence interval: 1.145-12.821). Conclusions: Preoperative PNI is a useful predictor of postoperative infectious complications in patients with CD-related bowel resection.