Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a complex procedure with significant postoperative morbidity. Associated sarcopenia could be a potential risk for increased post-operative complications. METHODS: Patients who had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy bet-ween July 2019 to December 2020 were included in the study. Preope-rative comprehensive sarcopenia assessment was done by hand grip strength test, Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan and gait speed test. Only myopenia was also assessed by DEXA scan in all the patients. Post-operative outcomes were recorded and the association of preoperative sarcopenia with postoperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 47 patients assessed, 36 patients were finally included (Median age -58 years (IQR-51,68) years, 26 male). The five (13.8%) had sarcopenia confirmed on comprehensive assessment. Thirteen (36.5%) patients had myopenia on DEXA assessment. The major Clavien-Dindo complications were significantly higher in sarcopenia (40% vs 6.6%, P=0.04) and similarly, grade C DGE (40% vs 0, P=0.04) was also more frequent in patients with sarcopenia. The patients with myopenia only did not have a significant correlation with post-operative complications. (15.4% vs 8.7% P=0.66). CONCLUSION: Comprehensive assessment using muscle strength and muscle quantity is essential for sarcopenia diagnosis. Preoperative sarcopenia is a significant risk factor for post-operative complications.