Impact of Sarcopenia on Perioperative Outcomes and Survival After Esophagectomy for Cancer

Patients with preoperative sarcopenia, identified using skeletal muscle index, had higher rates of major complications, including cardiac arrhythmia and mortality. They also had significantly lower overall survival and disease-free survival compared to non-sarcopenic patients. Sarcopenia was found to be an independent risk factor for lower survival on multivariate analysis. Sarcopenia is associated with increased risks of major complications and poorer survival outcomes after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.