Aim: The aim was to analyze the correlation between psoas muscle mass and mortality, as well as postoperative complications in patients treated for colonic perforation.
Patients and methods: A total of 46 patients met the study criteria. Patients were classified into an elderly (age, ≥75 years, n=24) and a younger group (age, <75 years, n=22). Background factors, postoperative data (including duration of hospital stay and discharge) were collected. The cross-sectional area of the psoas muscle area (PMA) was measured on the same day of operation.
Results: The age/length of stay and PMA were significantly correlated in the younger group (p=0.0015, 0.023, respectively). Fifteen and six patients were discharged to return home, and 8 and 16 patients were transferred to another hospital, in the younger and elderly groups, respectively (p=0.02). Discharge was not correlated with the PMA in either group.
Conclusion: The total psoas muscle mass would be useful as a quick and convenient measure of sarcopenia in younger patients, but not elderly patients.
Keywords: Low muscle mass; abdominal surgery; colonic perforation; elderly; emergency surgery; sarcopenia.
Copyright© 2019, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.