Subcutaneous fat thickness and abdominal depth are risk factors for surgical site infection after gastric cancer surgery

BACKGROUND Surgical site infection(SSI)is one of the most common complications after gastric cancer(GC)surgery.The occurrence of SSI can lead to a prolonged postoperative hospital stay and increased medical expenses,and it can also affect postoperative rehabilitation and the quality of life of patients.Subcutaneous fat thickness(SFT)and abdominal depth(AD)can be used as predictors of SSI in patients undergoing radical resection of GC.AIM To explore the potential relationship between SFT or AD and SSI in patients undergoing elective radical resection of GC.METHODS Demographic,clinical,and pre-and intraoperative information of 355 patients who had undergone elective radical resection of GC were retrospectively collected from hospital electronic medical records.Univariate analysis was performed to screen out the significant parameters,which were subsequently analyzed using binary logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis.RESULTS The prevalence of SSI was 11.27%(40/355).Multivariate analyses revealed that SFT[odds ratio(OR)=1.150;95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.090-1.214;P<0.001],AD(OR=1.024;95%CI:1.009-1.040;P=0.002),laparoscopic-assisted surgery(OR=0.286;95%CI:0.030-0.797;P=0.017),and operation time(OR=1.008;95%CI:1.001-1.015;P=0.030)were independently associated with the incidence of SSI after elective radical resection of GC.In addition,the product of SFT and AD was a better potential predictor of SSI in these patients than either SFT or AD alone.CONCLUSION SFT and AD are independent risk factors and can be used as predictors of SSI in patients undergoing radical resection of GC.

Evaluation of Visceral and Subcutaneous Fat by Ultrasound and Its Relationship with Clinical and Metabolic Parameters of Insulin Resistance and Subclinical Atherosclerosis

Objective: this study set out to investigate the association between abdominal obesity ultrasound measurements, waist circumference and body mass index (BMI), metabolic syndrome (MS) components and subclinical atherosclerosis. Methods: sixty patients were recruited and divided equally into two groups, according to the presence of MS. All subjects had an ultrasound examination for measurement of visceral and subcutaneous fat thickness and carotid IMT. Results: the values of visceral fat thickness, preperitoneal circumference and carotid IMT were higher in patients with MS than in control subjects. Visceral fat thickness showed significant correlations with many cardiovascular risk factors (waist circumference, BMI, fasting plasma glucose, HDL and LDL cholesterol). All abdominal obesity measurements were correlated with BMI. Carotid IMT showed correlations with age, visceral fat and preperitoneal circumference. Visceral fat was independently associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressures and fasting plasma glucose. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and BMI were independent determinants of carotid IMT. Conclusion: visceral fat thickness showed the best correlation with MS components, suggesting that it could be a useful parameter in cardiovascular risk assessment. Age, systolic and diastolic blood pressures and BMI were independent determinants of subclinical atherosclerosis. MS was associated with a higher carotid IMT.