Co-sponsored Luncheon Seminar on Perioperative and Home Rehabilitation at the 126th Annual Meeting of the Japan Surgical Society

MTG Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Aichi; President: Tsuyoshi Matsushita) co-sponsored a luncheon seminar titled 'Possibilities of SIXPAD in Perioperative and Home Rehabilitation' at the 126th Annual Meeting of the Japan Surgical Society, held from April 23 to 25, 2026. In this seminar, reports were made from medical sites regarding research initiatives based on joint studies with medical institutions and practices in clinical settings in the areas of perioperative and home rehabilitation. Seminar 01 | Initiatives at our Hospital for Sarcopenia in the Perioperative Period of Liver Transplantation using SIXPAD ■ Research Background and Initiative Overview Patients undergoing living-donor liver transplantation are prone to sarcopenia due to aging, underlying diseases, and the influence of myostatin, a myokine that suppresses skeletal muscle growth. It is known that the loss of muscle mass and function in the perioperative period affects subsequent recovery and prognosis. On the other hand, many patients awaiting transplantation find it difficult to endure traditional muscle-strengthening training, limiting the available intervention methods. Against this background, intervention using electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is being considered as a new option for perioperative management. ■ Speaker Dr. Yuriko Tsutsui Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University Department of Surgery, Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital ■ Purpose To clarify the effects of electrical muscle stimulation devices on serum myostatin concentration and sarcopenia in the perioperative period of patients undergoing living-donor liver transplantation. ■ Method The study targeted patients aged 20 and over with end-stage liver disease scheduled for living-donor liver transplantation and a MELD score of 15 or higher. Electrical muscle stimulation devices were applied from before the transplant until discharge. Serum samples were collected before the start of the protocol and just before surgery, and muscle mass was evaluated using CT before the intervention and one month after the transplant. ■ Results The intervention group showed significant improvement in serum myostatin concentration. While the psoas major index in the control group one month after the transplant was lower than before the intervention, it was maintained in the intervention group. Furthermore, although the area of the quadriceps femoris decreased after one month in both the intervention and control groups, the intervention group maintained it better than the control group. ■ Conclusion Applying electrical muscle stimulation devices before living-donor liver transplantation lowered serum myostatin levels and maintained skeletal muscle mass. ■ Related Publication Information Journal: Hepatology Research Title: Impact of electrical muscle stimulation on serum myostatin level and maintenance of skeletal muscle mass in patients undergoing living-donor liver transplantation Seminar 02 | Opening New Frontiers in Sarcopenia Countermeasures with SIXPAD ■ Research Background and Initiative Overview In elderly cancer patients, sarcopenia—a loss of muscle mass and strength—is frequently observed and known to affect quality of life, treatment continuity, and prognosis. Particularly during chemotherapy, continuing exercise therapy is often difficult due to side effects, fatigue, and the burden of hospital visits. Therefore, there is a demand for the establishment of rehabilitation methods that can be safely and easily performed at home, and the effectiveness of home self-rehabilitation using household EMS is being studied. ■ Speaker Dr. Hisashi Kosaka Lecturer, Department of Surgery, Kansai Medical University ■ Purpose To clarify the effects of home EMS on lower limb function and sarcopenia in elderly cancer patients. ■ Method From March 2023 to July 2024, 53 cancer patients visiting Kansai Medical University Hospital were divided into two groups: those with a baseline Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score of 9 or less (defined as decreased lower limb function) and those with a score above 9 (normal function). They practiced home self-rehabilitation using home EMS for 4 weeks. Walking speed, chair stand, and balance were measured before use, and at 2 and 4 weeks. ■ Results Four weeks of home self-rehabilitation using home EMS devices suggested the possibility of improving lower limb function and reducing sarcopenia in elderly cancer patients. <> No significant improvement in the total score or its components was seen in the baseline SPPB > 9 group (normal function group). However, in the baseline SPPB ≤ 9 group (decreased function group), the improvement effect was remarkable, with total scores, balance ability, and walking speed significantly improved. <>