Sarcopenia is Associated with Postoperative Complications in Patients Undergoing D2 Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Abstract

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the relationship of sarcopenia with early postoperative complications in patients undergoing curative D2 dissection due to gastric cancer.Methods:Patients with gastrectomy and D2 lymph node dissection for gastric cancer (GC) were retrospectively evaluated. Sarcopenia was diagnosed with computed tomography (CT) scan for pre-operative staging. Post-operative complications were determined according to Clavien-Dindo (CD) classification.Results:Sarcopenia was seen in 59 (40.7%) of the 145 patients included in the study. The rate of overall postoperative complications in sarcopenic patients was higher than in non-sarcopenic patients. Surgical complications and medical complications were higher in sarcopenic patients. Severe surgical complications (CD Grade III and above) were significantly higher in the sarcopenia group. Sarcopenia (4.63, 95% confidence interval, 1.76-12.18; p=0.002) was a prognostic risk factor for postoperative complications.Conclusion:Sarcopenia is associated with early postoperative complications in many types of cancer. This study showed that sarcopenia was associated with complications after D2 lymph node dissection in GC surgery. CT use in pre-operative clinical staging of patients and taking the necessary precautions make it easier to address post-operative complications.

Keywords

• sarcopenia
• gastric cancer
• gastrectomy
• d2 lymph node dissection
• postoperative complications.