Primary and secondary outcomes
SECONDARY, INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE
The primary outcome variable was the change in peripheral limb muscle strength at postoperative day 1, 7 and 28, relative to baseline preoperative muscle strength. The baseline preoperative muscle strength is the muscle strength measured before surgery. The secondary outcomes were: (1) change in MIPat postoperative day 1, 7 and 28, (2) general health status as assessed by EQ-5D-5L questionnaires at postoperative day 1, 7 and 28 and (3) levels of markers of the neuro-endocrine stress and inflammatory response.To reach sufficient statistical power (1-beta 0.80, based on a two-sided t-test with alpha 0.05) 22 subjects per group should be included. This power calculation was based on the assumption that a 10% decrease in muscle strength is clinically relevant in patients undergoing GA and that this could be reduced to a 7% drop in muscle strength when using SA with a SD of 3.5% [