Retrospective study of the effect of sarcopaenia on post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing thoracic surgery

Background & objectives: Sarcopaenia refers to the pathological loss of muscle mass that may be observed in malnutrition, immobility, chronic disease, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and malignancies. A relationship has been identified between sarcopaenia and thoracic surgery. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between density and area of the psoas major muscle (PSM), the pectoralis major and minor muscles (PEC) and the post-operative morbidity, mortality and survival of patients undergoing anatomic lung resection. Methods: A retrospective review of the medical record data of the patients who underwent lung resection was conducted in between 2009 and 2018. The study included patients who underwent upper abdominal computed tomography (CT) for the measurement of PSM and thoracic CT for PEC. The demographic data, laboratory test results, radiological findings and the survival data of the patients were recorded. Results: Evaluation was made of 161 patients with available CT data. With the exception of mean PEC density, the PEC parameters (P=0.013-0.026), and PSM density (P=0.015) were significantly lower in the non-survivors than in the survivors. In general, the mean measurements of the PSM and PEC were seen to affect mortality (P=0.001-0.024). Interpretation & conclusions: The mean area and density measurements in the PSM, and particularly in the PEC, were determined to be significantly higher in patients who survived after lung cancer surgery, suggesting that sarcopaenia could be a useful predictor of post-operative mortality risk and survival.