Effects of Sarcopenia on Post-Operative Complications in Patients Undergoing Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer: An Integrative Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18063/ghl.v4i2.256Keywords:
Postoperative complications, Gastrectomy, Skeletal muscle, Gastric neoplasms, SarcopeniaAbstract
The objective of this paper is to investigate the influence of sarcopenia on postoperative complications in patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer. PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct and SciELO databases were used, with the search strategy: Sarcopenia and Stomach Neoplasms. The integrative review was structured with fifteen articles, published from 2015 to 2019. Data analysis was performed in a descriptive way. Twelve studies identified sarcopenia as a risk factor for postoperative complications in patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The reduction in skeletal muscle mass was associated with decreased intake or bioavailability of nutrients and metabolic changes, such as increased production of pro-inflammatory molecules resulting in weakening of the immune system and poor postsurgical healing. It was concluded that the presence of sarcopenia in these patients is related to a higher occurrence of postoperative complications.