Acute Sarcopenia after Elective and Emergency Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Surgical Medicine
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Sarcopenia, characterized by muscle mass and function loss, is increasingly recognized.
• The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWSOP2) updated its definition in 2018, prioritizing muscle strength.
• Acute sarcopenia is defined as muscle loss lasting less than six months.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the pathophysiology of muscle wasting following surgery.
• To identify hormonal factors, inflammation, microRNAs, and oxidative stress involved in post-surgical muscle loss.
• To explore the predictive value of biomarkers for post-surgical muscle wasting.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on pathophysiology of muscle wasting post-surgery.
• Analysis of hormonal factors, inflammation, microRNAs, and oxidative stress.
• Identification and discussion of potential biomarkers (GDF-15, IGF-1, microRNAs).

Main Results:

• Post-surgical muscle wasting involves hormonal changes, inflammation, microRNAs, and oxidative stress.
• Biomarkers such as GDF-15, IGF-1, and specific microRNAs show potential in predicting muscle loss after surgery.
• Existing sarcopenia can impact surgical outcomes, and new muscle wasting can occur post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• Further research is needed, including longitudinal studies, to understand changes in muscle strength and quantity post-surgery.
• Replication of biomarker findings across different surgical contexts is necessary to validate theories on muscle wasting pathophysiology.
• Understanding acute sarcopenia's mechanisms is crucial for improving surgical patient recovery.