Mustafa Can KAPLAN, Batuhan YAZICI, Anil AKBAS, Fatime UCDAG, Unal AYDIN
Turkish Journal of Vascular Surgery - 2026;35(2):85-94
Aim: The Inflammatory Burden Index(IBI), calculated using C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts, has emerged as a promising marker of systemic inflammation. However, its prognostic utility in vascular surgical procedures has not been well established. This investigation examined the relationship between preoperative IBI values and postoperative complications in individuals undergoing open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. Material and Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control analysis involving 86 patients who received elective open AAA repair from January 2017 through May 2022. Participants were categorized into two cohorts based on whether they experienced postoperative wound discharge. We employed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve methodology to identify the optimal IBI threshold for predicting superficial surgical site infection (SSSI). We then compared clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, and perioperative outcomes between patients with high versus low IBI levels. Results: SSSI occurred in 30.2% of patients and was significantly associated with elevated IBI (p = 0.033). ROC analysis identified an IBI threshold of 24.271 as optimal for SSSI prediction (AUC: 0.646, 95% CI: 0.516--0.775). Individuals with IBI >=24.271 demonstrated notably lower albumin concentrations, decreased ejection fraction, elevated CRP and neutrophil levels, extended hospitalization duration, slower resumption of oral intake, and higher SSSI incidence (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). As an inflammatory marker, IBI is noteworthy for its predictive value in terms of postoperative outcomes. Conclusion: High preoperative IBI was associated with increased postoperative SSSI and delayed recovery in patients undergoing open AAA repair. IBI may serve as a practical, cost-effective biomarker for preoperative risk stratification and can be evaluated in terms of perioperative management strategies to improve outcomes.
