Impact of CT-measured sarcopenic obesity on postoperative outcomes following colon cancer surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the influence of sarcopenic obesity on anastomotic leak following elective colon resection for non-metastatic colon cancer. Secondary outcomes included overall morbidity, mortality and length of hospital stay. METHODS: This retrospective observational study, conducted at a colorectal surgery referral centre, spanned from January 1, 2015, to January 1, 2020. A total of 544 consecutive patients who underwent elective colon resection were included in the analysis, excluding patients with rectal cancer, urgent surgery, absence of anastomosis, lack of imaging, multivisceral resections and synchronic tumours. RESULTS: Postoperative complications were observed in 177 (32.3%) patients, with 51 (9.31%) classified as severe (Clavien-Dindo > II). Sarcopenic obesity was identified in 9.39% of the sample and emerged as an independent predictor of increased overall morbidity [OR 2.15 (1.14-3.69); p = 0.016] and 30-day mortality [OR 5.07 (1.22-20.93); p = 0.03] and was significantly associated with the development of anastomotic leak [OR 2.95 (1.41-6.18); p = 0.007]. Furthermore, it increased the risk of reoperation and was linked to a prolonged length of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: CT-measured sarcopenic obesity demonstrates a discernible correlation with an elevated risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality in the context of colon cancer surgery.

Impact of Sarcopenic Obesity on Long-Term Cancer Outcomes and Postoperative Complications After Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sarcopenia in gastric cancer (GC), although varying among the reported studies, is around 60%. In the last few years, it has been recognised that sarcopenia can also occur not only in patients with weight loss and low body weight, but also in patients with normal or increased body mass index. Therefore, the term sarcopenic obesity (SO) is a new definition that further expands the implications of altered body composition. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of SO on the perioperative morbidity and the survival of GC patients undergoing gastrectomy by evaluating body composition on CT images. METHODS: Preoperative CT scans were obtained from all patients with a diagnosis of GC undergoing gastrectomy with curative intent between January 2012 and December 2019. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) cross-sectional area at the level of the transverse processes of the third lumbar vertebra (L3) were measured. Sarcopenia and obesity were defined according to sex-specific cut-off points. RESULTS: After analysing 190 patients, the prevalence of SO was 21.1% (40 patients) and sarcopenia was 14.7% (28 patients). Multivariate analysis showed that corporal composition was an independent factor of overall survival (p = 0.049). Logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors associated with postoperative complications. SO was identified as a risk factor for serious Clavien-Dindo complications > IIIb/IV [OR 2.82 (1.1-7.1); p = 0.028]. CONCLUSION: SO was a risk factor for severe postoperative complications as well as worse long-term oncological after a gastrectomy for GC.

Baja incidencia y alta mortalidad por COVID-19 en Cirugía General durante la primera ola de la pandemia / Low incidence and high COVID-19 mortality in a General Surgery during the first wave of the pandemia

Resumen Introducción y objetivo: La infección por coronavirus (COVID-19) en pacientes intervenidos es causa de importante mortalidad posoperatoria, aunque su incidencia es variable. El objetivo primario fue evaluar la incidencia de COVID-19 en los pacientes intervenidos en nuestro Servicio de Cirugía General y Digestiva, durante el máximo impacto de la pandemia en España. El objetivo secundario fue evaluar la mortalidad perioperatoria y determinar los factores de riesgo para la infección por COVID-19. Materiales y Método: Estudio observacional retrospectivo de pacientes consecutivos sometidos a Cirugía General y Digestiva con ingreso superior a 24 h, del 1 de febrero de 2020 al 30 de abril de 2020 en un hospital terciario de Madrid, España. Resultados: Se analizaron 441 pacientes: 423 sin COVID-19 y 18 con COVID-19. Las características preoperatorias y operatorias fueron similares para ambos grupos, salvo por el grado ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists). La incidencia de COVID-19 en los pacientes intervenidos fue del 4,1%. La mortalidad posoperatoria fue elevada, del 22,2% en pacientes con COVID-19, frente a un 2,8% en pacientes no COVID-19 (p: 0,003). Los factores de riesgo para la infección por COVID-19 en los pacientes intervenidos fueron una estancia hospitalaria prolongada (OR: 1,035 [95% CI: 1,007-1,065]) y la reintervención quirúrgica (OR: 5,025 [95% CI: 1,650-15,311]). Conclusión: Las intervenciones durante la pandemia de COVID-19 causaron una baja tasa de infección con elevada mortalidad posoperatoria. La intervención quirúrgica debe valorarse frente al riesgo adicional para el paciente en contextos de alta transmisión.

The impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in intervened patients seems to cause large postoperative mortality, although its incidence varies among centres. Primary aim was to evaluate the incidence of COVID-19 on the patients intervened in our General and Digestive Surgery Department, during the maximum impact of the pandemia in Spain. Secondary outcomes were evaluating perioperative mortality, and determining the risk factors for COVID-19 infection. Materials and Method: Retrospective single centre study of consecutive patients undergoing general and gastrointestinal surgical procedures with more than 24 hours of inhospital stay, from February 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020 in a tertiary referral centre in Madrid, Spain. Results: A total of 441 patients were analysed: 423 were non-COVID-19 patients while 18 of them had COVID-19. Preoperative and operative characteristics were similar for both groups, unless for the American Society of Anesthesiologists grade. The incidence of COVID-19 in our intervened patients was 4.1%. Postoperative mortality was high among surgical patients with COVID-19, with a mortality rate of 22.2% compared to a 2.8% in non COVID-19 patients. The risk factors for COVID-19 infection were a prolonged postoperative stay (OR: 1.035 [95% CI: 1.007-1.065]) and the need of a reintervention (OR: 5.025 [95% CI: 1.650-15.311]). Conclusion: Surgical interventions during the COVID-19 pandemia resulted in a low infection rate but a high postoperative COVID-19 mortality. The decision to intervene must be carefully balanced against the additional risk for patients in a high transmission setting.