Preoperative standardized phase angle at bioimpedance vector analysis predicts the outbreak of

Linda Roccamatisi1, Luca Gianotti1, Salvatore Paiella2

  • 1School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca and Department of Surgery, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy Monza, Italy.

Abstract

Insights

Preoperative body composition, specifically a low standardized phase angle (SPA), is linked to increased risk of multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections after major abdominal surgery. This finding aids in identifying high-risk surgical cancer patients for targeted interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Surgical oncology
  • Infectious disease
  • Body composition analysis

Background:

  • Infectious morbidity is a significant complication in surgery, with multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections leading to poor patient outcomes.
  • Alterations in body composition are recognized risk factors for surgical site infections.
  • Identifying specific body composition traits associated with MDR infections is crucial for risk stratification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between specific body composition traits and the risk of developing MDR infections in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery for gastrointestinal cancer.
  • To determine if preoperative body composition assessment can predict the likelihood of MDR infections.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study involving 182 patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery for gastrointestinal cancer.
  • Bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) was used for preoperative body composition assessment.
  • Postoperative complications, including bacterial infections and resistance patterns, were meticulously recorded and analyzed against BIVA parameters.

Main Results:

  • A total of 108 patients (59%) experienced complications, with 45 (28%) developing bacterial infections, including 38 MDR infections.
  • The standardized phase angle (SPA) measured by BIVA was significantly lower in patients with MDR/extended drug-resistant (XDR) infections compared to those with no or multidrug-sensitive infections (P=0.029).
  • Multivariate analysis identified SPA as the sole independent predictor for MDR/XDR infections (OR=3.057, P=0.007), with an optimal predictive threshold of -0.3.

Conclusions:

  • A preoperative standardized phase angle (SPA) below -0.3 is significantly associated with an increased risk of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections in surgical cancer patients.
  • Preoperative BIVA assessment of body composition, particularly SPA, can serve as a valuable tool for predicting MDR infection risk in this patient population.

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