Sarcopenia assessed by the quantity and quality of skeletal muscle is a prognostic factor for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Purpose: Sarcopenia was assessed as a prognostic factor for patients undergoing cardiac surgery by evaluating the quantity and quality of skeletal muscle.

Methods: Sarcopenia was assessed by perioperative abdominal computed tomography using the total psoas muscle index (TPI) and intra-muscular adipose tissue content (IMAC). Patients were classified into high- (HT, n = 143) and low- (LT, n = 63) TPI groups and low- (LI, n = 122) and high- (HI, n = 84) IMAC groups.

Lung-diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide predicts early complications after cardiac surgery.

Purpose: Preoperative pulmonary dysfunction has been associated with increased operative mortality and morbidity after cardiac surgery. This study aimed to determine whether values for the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DL) could predict postoperative complications after cardiac surgery.

Methods: This study included 408 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac surgery between June 2008 and December 2015.