OC-011 SARCOPENIA IN COMPLEX ABDOMINAL WALL SURGERY: IMPACT ON THE POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Abstract Aim Sarcopenia is defined as the skeletal muscle mass loss and is considered as a prognostic factor in oncological surgical patients, liver transplant and trauma surgery. It can be reversed with exercise and diet. Nonetheless there is a lack of evidence of its impact on complex abdominal wall surgery. The aim is to evaluate the impact of sarcopenia in postoperative complications after complex incisional hernia repair. Material and Methods Retrospective study of patients undergoing surgery for complex incisional hernias >10cm (W3 of European Hernia Society classification) between 2014–2021. Sarcopenia was stablished as the skeletal muscle index (SMI), measured at L3 transversal section of a preoperative CT-scan. Previously defined literature-based SMI cutoff values were used: men <52,4cm2/m2, women <38,5cm2/m2. Results We included 105 patients, of which 29 (27,6%) were sarcopenic. The mean follow-up was 24,11 (19,28) months. The mean age and body mass index was 65,34 (10,98) and 31,85 (5,55), respectively. Sarcopenia was significantly associated with a higher risk of death [OR 11,21 (IC95% 2,76–45,52); p=0,001]. We observed a difference in need of intensive care unit (ICU) stay [OR 2,24 (IC95% 0,88–5,69); p=0,089] and cardiac complications [OR 2,96 (IC95% 0,79–11,11); p=0,108], not reaching statistical significance. Differences in surgical site occurrence or infection were not observed. After analysing by possible cofounding factors (age, comorbidities, ICU stay), sarcopenia remains associated with a higher risk of death [OR 9,08 (IC95% 2,08–39,59); p=0,003]. Conclusions Given the results of our study sarcopenia might increase the risk of death, independent of age, comorbidities and ICU stay.