Sarcopenia in a patient with most serious complications after highly invasive surgeries treated with nutrition, rehabilitation, and pharmacotherapy: a case report

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported the implementation of nutrition therapy and rehabilitation for acute and critical illnesses. However, rehabilitation nutrition for elderly sarcopenia patients with extremely severe postoperative complications during hospitalization has not yet been established. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 70-year-old man with sarcopenia that developed as a postoperative complication of the surgical resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and left the patient bedridden from prolonged malnutrition and muscle weakness. The patient’s general condition improved after a nearly 6-month intervention by our Nutrition Support Team (NST) that combined nutrition, exercise, and pharmacotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The appropriate timing and order of pharmacotherapy, nutrient administration, exercise therapy, and team collaboration may enable elderly patients with severe (secondary) sarcopenia and postoperative complications to regain self-sustained walking.