Assessment of changes in the body composition in patients qualified for the operational treatment of the primary and metastatic liver tumors with the use of bioelectric impedance

Introduction: Resection is an optimal way of treatment of hepatic tumors and metastasis from another organs. Operational injury may influence on patients body composition examined by bioelectrical impedance (BIA). Analysis of parameters may be helpful in identifying early changes indicating of deterioration in nutritional status. Aim of the study: was to assess changes in body composition of patients before and after resection of liver tumors and potential radiofrequency ablation of lesions. Material and methods: The study included a group of 50 patients of the Department of General, Gastroenterological and Oncological Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, who were qualified for radical surgical treatment of tumors within the liver. Data on water content, fat, muscle and cell mass were analyzed. Results: Comparing data obtained from patients before and after intervention in the liver, statistically significant (p < 0.05) loss of intracellular water, muscle mass, cell mass as well as adipose tissue was demonstrated. The phase angle value in these patients also significantly changed, decreasing by an average of 0.61°. On the other hand, the increase in content was noted in the case of extracellular water. Conclusions: Surgical intervention within the liver causes noticeable, unfavorable changes in the body composition, as evidenced by the reduction in the value of muscle mass, as well as cellular mass, resulting in a decrease in the phase angle. Bioelectric impedance is a suitable method for assessing changes in body composition of patients undergoing liver resection and is useful in clinical practice. It is advisable to conduct further research in the group of patients undergoing invasive treatment of the liver due to: an increasing number of such operations and centers where this type of surgical intervention is performe.