Introduction: In our hospital, we measure the body composition of patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. For patients who have a skeletal muscle mass(SMM)of less than 90% of the ideal, we provide them with guidance on having oral nutritional supplements(ONS)and self-exercise therapy. Therefore, we perform operations after taking measures on preserving/improving patient's preoperative conditions. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects on body weight, SMM, and fat mass(FM)in the patients scheduled for gastrectomy.
Patients and methods: From January 2017 to December 2020, we retrospectively analyzed 64 gastric cancer patients whose body composition changes were measured at the time of initial diagnosis and immediately before surgery. The body composition was measured by a nutritionist using the BIA method, while the self-exercise therapy was instructed by a rehabilitation therapist.
Results: A total of 64 patients were divided into 2 groups: ONS group(36 patients)and Non-ONS group(28 patients). The median preoperative ONS administered to the ONS group was 15 packs. Body weight change showed a significant difference between the 2 groups(+0.73% and -0.91%[p<0.01]in the ONS group and Non-ONS group respectively). SMM change showed no significant difference between the 2 groups(+1.18% and +0.64%[p=0.19]in the ONS group and Non-ONS group respectively). Likewise, FM change showed no significant difference between the 2 groups(-1.08% and -3.50%[p=0.39]in the ONS group and Non-ONS group respectively).
Conclusion: This study suggested that SMM and FM could be preserved, and body weight could be increased by the support of preoperative ONS administration even in patients with gastric cancer close to having sarcopenia.