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Published on: November 8, 2019
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Sarcopenia and microvascular free flap reconstruction.
Joy Chen1, Steven K Dennis, Marianne Abouyared
1Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, Sacramento, California, USA.
Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery
|August 13, 2021
Summary
Sarcopenia, or muscle loss, significantly increases surgical complications and mortality in head and neck cancer patients. Computed tomography (CT) scans offer an objective measure for diagnosing sarcopenia and predicting outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Plastic Surgery
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Malnutrition and muscle loss (sarcopenia) are common in head and neck cancer patients.
- Diagnosing sarcopenia is challenging due to a lack of reliable objective measures.
- Traditional nutritional markers like albumin have limited predictive value due to cancer-related inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on the impact of sarcopenia on microvascular free flap reconstruction outcomes.
- To highlight the diagnostic advancements and clinical implications of sarcopenia in surgical patients.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on sarcopenia and reconstructive surgery outcomes.
- Analysis of diagnostic methods for sarcopenia, including computed tomography (CT) for body composition assessment.
Main Results:
- Sarcopenia is linked to increased surgical complications, delayed recovery, and higher mortality rates.
- CT-derived muscle mass indices provide an objective and accessible method for assessing body composition and nutritional status.
- Sarcopenia is a significant predictor of postoperative complications.
Conclusions:
- Sarcopenia negatively impacts microvascular free flap reconstruction outcomes.
- CT imaging offers an objective tool for evaluating sarcopenia and predicting surgical risks.
- Immunonutrition shows promise in mitigating sarcopenia-related inflammation and improving patient outcomes.
