A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Perioperative Muscle Wasting Following Major Abdominal Surgery

Background

Muscle wasting in the perioperative period is a frequent and clinically significant complication following major abdominal surgery and is associated with adverse outcomes, including increased postoperative complications, prolonged hospitalisation and worsened mortality. Despite its prevalence, the magnitude and course of perioperative muscle wasting (POMW) remain incompletely understood, and current interventions are limited. Current definitions applied to sarcopenia do not suitably apply to cohorts undergoing major abdominal surgery, and therefore, we propose the concept of POMW, defined as POMW within 6 weeks of surgery. These systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess the extent of POMW and synthesise evidence on its clinical impact and potential interventions.