Risk of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Following Preoperative Glucocorticoids Administration in Patients After Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is one of the most serious complications in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Although glucocorticoids are increasingly used during PCNL, few studies have been concerned about the association between glucocorticoids and postoperative SIRS. The study aims to explore whether preoperative use of glucocorticoids is associated with SIRS after PCNL.

Methods: A total of 1259 patients who underwent PCNL between January 2015 and April 2021 were enrolled in the retrospective cohort study. Risk factors for post-PCNL SIRS were identified by univariate and multivariate regression analysis. To further explore the association between preoperative administration of glucocorticoids and SIRS, 113 pairs of patients were matched for the confounding factors using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. The odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for the above variables were analyzed.

Results: The incidence of SIRS after PCNL was 9.6 % (121/1259) and the patients who suffered from postoperative SIRS had longer hospital stays and higher hospital costs (all p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that female, preoperative leukocyte count, insertion of central vein catheter, serum albumin, preoperative high-sensitive C-reactive protein/albumin ratio, preoperative transfusion, preoperative administration of glucocorticoids were independent risk factors for SIRS (all p < 0.05). After minimization, the effects of confounding factors by PSM, preoperative administration of glucocorticoids was significantly correlated with SIRS in patients after PCNL (OR=2.44, 95 %CI: 1.31-4.55, p = 0.005).

Conclusion: Preoperative administration of glucocorticoids is an independent risk factor for SIRS in patients undergoing PCNL.