Bautmans, Ivan, Njemini, Rose, Bert, Jansen, De Backer, Jacques, De Waele, Elisabeth, Mets, Tony, Frailty in Ageing, Supporting clinical sciences, and Intensive Care
AIM To investigate the relationship of post-operative fatigue with muscle endurance and circulating inflammatory cytokines. METHODS Prospective study including 84 patients (41 female and 43 male, age 24-91 years) scheduled for elective abdominal surgery (42 open and 42 laparoscopic). All patients were assessed one day before and 2 days after surgery; and if still hospitalized at day 4 (N=78) and day 7 (N=50) post-surgery. Outcome measures were self-perceived fatigue (Profile of Mood State), Fatigue Resistance (FR, time during which grip strength drops to 50% of its maximum), Grip Work (GW, work output delivered by the muscles during the FR-test), VAS for Pain and circulating Interleukin (IL)-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha. Data were analyzed using ANOVA for Repeated Measures, and correlations for changes over time were computed between perceived fatigue and the other outcome parameters. RESULTS All outcome-parameters worsened significantly (p75), patients aged >75 years worsened significantly more and recovered significantly less rapidly for FR at day4 post-surgery compared to the younger patients (p CONCLUSION Post-operative fatigue is related to reduced muscle endurance and elevated IL-6. Elderly patients show a higher impact of surgery on muscle endurance.