Impact of Sarcopenia Using an Easy Psoas Area Measurement

Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass that occurs usually with aging, but it may have multiple contributing factors, especially related to chronic diseases such as colorectal cancer.

When present, sarcopenia is predictive of poor post-operative course. The identification of sarcopenia needs either the identification of low muscle strength, low muscle quantity/quality, or finally a low physical performance.

Multiple clinical, biological or radiological tools were proposed. Our purpose is to compare the post-operative outcome of sarcopenic and non sarcopenic patients using a simple, available, reproducible and rapid radiological method, which will help the healthcare professionals to rapidly identify high risk patients for possible complicated and long post-operative course allowing them to take appropriate perioperative measures to reduce the risks.

Inclusion criteria

• Patient operated on for colectomy or proctectomy with restoration of continuity for colorectal cancer between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021
• Patient who had a CT scan in the 2 months prior surgery
• Patient aged 18 years or older

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn disease, haemorrhagic rectocolitis)
• Patients with neuromuscular pathology affecting their mobility
• Patients who were diagnosed positif to SARS COV 2 before or during hospitalisation
• Patients who refuse the collection of their data