Emergency general surgery in the geriatric patient

Frailty in Older Patients Undergoing Emergency Laparotomy: Results From the UK Observational Emergency Laparotomy and Frailty (ELF) Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to document the prevalence of frailty in older adults undergoing emergency laparotomy and to explore relationships between frailty and postoperative morbidity and mortality.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

The majority of adults undergoing emergency laparotomy are older adults (≥65 y) that carry the highest mortality. Improved understanding is urgently needed to allow development of targeted interventions.

METHODS

An observational multicenter (n=49) UK study was performed (March-June 2017). All older adults undergoing emergency laparotomy were included. Preoperative frailty score was calculated using the progressive Clinical Frailty Score (CFS): 1 (very fit) to 7 (severely frail). Primary outcome measures were the prevalence of frailty (CFS 5-7) and its association to mortality at 90 days postoperative. Secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality and morbidity, length of critical care, and overall hospital stay.

RESULTS

A total of 937 older adults underwent emergency laparotomy: frailty was present in 20%. Ninety-day mortality was 19.5%. After age and sex adjustment, the risk of 90-day mortality was directly associated with frailty: CFS 5 adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.18 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.24-8.14] and CFS 6/7 aOR 6·10 (95% CI, 2.26-16.45) compared with CFS 1. Similar associations were found for 30-day mortality. Increasing frailty was also associated with increased risk of complications, length of Intensive Care Unit, and overall hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

A fifth of older adults undergoing emergency laparotomy are frail. The presence of frailty is associated with greater risks of postoperative mortality and morbidity and is independent of age. Frailty scoring should be integrated into acute surgical assessment practice to aid decision-making and development of novel postoperative strategies.

Clinical-pathological features and treatment of acute appendicitis in the very elderly: an interim analysis of the FRAILESEL Italian multicentre prospective study

BACKGROUND

Emergency abdominal surgery in the elderly represents a global issue. Diagnosis of AA in old patients is often more difficult. Appendectomy remains the gold standard of treatment and, even though it is performed almost exclusively with a minimally invasive technique, it can still represent a great risk for the elderly patient, especially above 80 years of age. A careful selection of elderly patients to be directed to surgery is, therefore, fundamental. The primary aim was to critically appraise and compare the clinical-pathological characteristics and the outcomes between oldest old (≥ 80 years) and elderly (65-79 years) patients with Acute Appendicitis (AA).

METHODS

The FRAILESEL is a large, nationwide, multicentre, prospective study investigating the perioperative outcomes of patients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent emergency abdominal surgery. Particular focus has been directed to the clinical and biochemical presentation as well as to the need for operative procedures, type of surgical approach, morbidity and mortality, and in-hospital length of stay. Two multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess perioperative risk factors for morbidity and mortality.

RESULTS

182 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Mean age, ileocecal resection, OAD and ASA score ≥ 3 were related with both overall and major complication. The multivariate analysis showed that MPI and complicated appendicitis were independent factors associated with overall complications. OAD and ASA scores ≥ 3 were independent factors for both overall and major complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Age ≥ 80 years is not an independent risk factor for morbidities. POCUS is safe and effective for the diagnosis; however, a CECT is often needed. Having the oldest old a smaller functional organ reserve, an earlier intervention should be considered especially because they often show a delay in presentation and frequently exhibit a complicated appendicitis.

Prediction of functional loss in emergency surgery is possible with a simple frailty screening tool

Background

Senior adults fear postoperative loss of independence the most, and this might represent an additional burden for families and society. The number of geriatric patients admitted to the emergency room requiring an urgent surgical treatment is rising, and the presence of frailty is the main risk factor for postoperative morbidity and functional decline. Frailty assessment in the busy emergency setting is challenging. The aim of this study is to verify the effectiveness of a very simple five-item frailty screening tool, the Flemish version of the Triage Risk Screening Tool (fTRST), in predicting functional loss after emergency surgery among senior adults who were found to be independent before surgery.

Methods

All consecutive individuals aged 70 years and older who were independent (activity of daily living (ADL) score ≥5) and were admitted to the emergency surgery unit with an urgent need for abdominal surgery between December 2015 and May 2016 were prospectively included in the study. On admission, individuals were screened using the fTRST and additional metrics such as the age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (CACI) and the ASA score. Thirty- and 90-day complications and postoperative decline in the ADL score where recorded. Regression analysis was performed to identify preoperative predictors of functional loss.

Results

Seventy-eight patients entered the study. Thirty-day mortality rate was 12.8% (10/78), and the 90-day overall mortality was 15.4% (12/78). One in every four patients (17/68) experienced a significant functional loss at 30-day follow-up. At 90-day follow-up, only 3/17 patients recovered, 2 patients died, and 12 remained permanently dependent. On the regression analysis, a statistically significant correlation with functional loss was found for fTRST, CACI, and age≥85 years old both at 30 and 90 days after surgery. fTRST≥2 showed the highest effectiveness in predicting functional loss at 90 days with AUC 72 and OR 6.93 (95% CI 1.71–28.05). The institutionalization rate with the need to discharge patients to a healthcare facility was 7.6% (5/66); all of them had a fTRST≥2.

Conclusion

fTRST is an easy and effective tool to predict the risk of a postoperative functional decline and nursing home admission in the emergency setting.

Causes of death after emergency general surgical admission: population cohort study of mortality

Background

A substantial number of patients treated in emergency general surgery (EGS) services die within a year of discharge. The aim of this study was to analyse causes of death and their relationship to discharge diagnoses, in patients who died within 1 year of discharge from an EGS service in Scotland.

Methods

This was a population cohort study of all patients with an EGS admission in Scotland, UK, in the year before death. Patients admitted to EGS services between January 2008 and December 2017 were included. Data regarding patient admissions were obtained from the Information Services Division in Scotland, and cross-referenced to death certificate data, obtained from the National Records of Scotland.

Results

Of 507 308 patients admitted to EGS services, 7917 died while in hospital, and 52 094 within 1 year of discharge. For the latter, the median survival time was 67 (i.q.r. 21–168) days after EGS discharge. Malignancy accounted for 48 per cent of deaths and was the predominant cause of death in patients aged over 35 years. The cause of death was directly related to the discharge diagnosis in 56.5 per cent of patients. Symptom-based discharge diagnoses were often associated with a malignancy not diagnosed on admission.

Conclusion

When analysed by subsequent cause of death, EGS is a cancer-based specialty. Adequate follow-up and close links with oncology and palliative care services merit development.

Frailty index as a predictive preoperative tool in the elder population undergoing major abdominal surgery: a prospective analysis of clinical utility

PURPOSE

The geriatric population has increased considerably in the last decades. Such increases come along with new challenges for surgical practitioners, who now face a risen number of frail patients in need of major operations. The value of frailty indexes in this setting has been discussed recently. This study assessed the modified Rockwood frailty index (mRFI) as a predictive tool for postoperative complications in older adults subjected to major abdominal operations and correlated it with other scores widely utilized for this purpose.

METHODS

We performed a prospective study utilizing the mRFI including all patients older than 65 years subjected to major abdominal surgery between May 2017 and May 2019 in a third-level academic center. A comparison between frail (mRFI >0.25) and non-frail patients (mRFI <0.25) was performed. We performed logistic regression to identify predictors of postoperative complications and 30-day mortality. We analyzed the correlation between mRFI and ACS-NSQIP, P-POSSUM, PMP, and Charlson score risk calculators.

RESULTS

One hundred forty patients were included in our study, of whom 49 (35%) were identified as frail. Frail patients demonstrated significantly prolonged hospital stay (p<.0001), ICU admission rates (p=0.004), hospital readmissions (p=0.007), and higher mortality rates (p=0.02). Our univariate analysis associated frailty (mRFI>0.25), ASA >III, increased age, and BMI with postoperative complications. In our multivariate analysis, frailty remained an independent predictor for postoperative complications (OR 6.38, 95% CI [2.45-16.58], p<0.001). Frailty was also associated with length of stay (LOS) regardless of the type of surgery (OR 3.35, 95% CI [0.37-6.33], p= 0.03). mRFI>0.25 demonstrated a sensitivity (Se) of 70% and specificity (Sp) 67% with area under the curve (AUC) 0.75 for perioperative complications, Se 69% and Sp 70% with AUC 0.74 for ICU admissions, and Se 83% and Sp 68% with AUC 0.83 for mortality.

CONCLUSION

Frail patients demonstrated significantly prolonged hospital stay, ICU admission rates, hospital readmissions, and higher mortality rates. mRFI is an independent predictor for perioperative complications with a Se of 70% and Sp 67% and AUC 0.75.

Patient Experiences of the Emergency Laparotomy Pathway: A Qualitative Study

INTRODUCTION

Emergency laparotomy (EL) is a commonly performed operation with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Despite a growing body of literature on outcomes from EL, there is sparse literature on the patient experience. The aim of this study is to capture the perspective of patients on their EL experience. Qualitative methodology is used as a platform to allow patients to express their personal experiences and ideas around the EL process.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Participants were consented as a part of a large observational study, established across the three public teaching hospitals in Auckland, New Zealand. Patients who had an EL within the past 4 months were recruited. A recorded interview was conducted either face-to-face or over the telephone, using questions formulated from a previous systematic review on EL outcomes. Transcripts were transported to NVivo and thematically analysed by two reviewers.

RESULTS

Fifteen participants were interviewed. The majority of participants were female, New Zealand European and 65 or older. Five important themes were identified. Overall, participants expressed satisfaction with their interactions with hospital staff. However, they wanted more information about their condition, operation and what outcomes might occur. Participants also described post-operative priorities in the acute setting, as well as long-standing physical and emotional impacts.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a better understanding of what is important to patients during the EL process. This information is important when considering ways to improve care and communication with patients undergoing EL.

Meta-analysis of mortality risk in octogenarians undergoing emergency general surgery operations

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to quantify the risk of perioperative mortality in octogenarians undergoing emergency general surgical operations and to compare such risk between octogenarians and nonoctogenarians.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses standards to identify studies reporting the mortality risk in patients aged over 80 years undergoing emergency general surgery operations. The primary outcome measure was 30-day mortality, which was stratified based on American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status and procedure type. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. Random-effects models were applied to calculate pooled outcome data.

RESULTS

Analysis of 66,701 octogenarians from 22 studies showed that the risk of 30-day mortality was 26% (95% confidence interval 18%-34%) for all operations: 29% (95% confidence interval 25%-33%) for emergency laparotomy; 9% (95% confidence interval 1%-23%) for nonlaparotomy emergency operations; 21% (95% confidence interval 13%-30%) for colon resection; 17% (95% confidence interval 11%-25%) for small bowel resection; 9% (95% confidence interval 7%-11%) for adhesiolysis; 6% (95% confidence interval 5.9%-6.8%) for perforated ulcer repair; 3% (95% confidence interval 2.6%-4%) for appendicectomy; 3% (95% confidence interval 2.8%-3.3%) for cholecystectomy; and 5% (95% confidence interval 0.2%-14%) for hernia repair. When stratified based on the patient's ASA status, the risk was 11% (95% confidence interval 4%-20%) for ASA 2 status, 22% (95% confidence interval 10%-36%) for ASA 3 status, 39% (95% confidence interval 29%-48%) for ASA 4 status, and 94% (95% confidence interval 77%-100%) for ASA 5 status. The risk was higher in octogenarians compared with nonoctogenarians (odds ratio: 4.07, 95% confidence interval 2.40-6.89), patients aged 70 to 79 (odds ratio: 1.21, 95% confidence interval 1.13-1.31), and patients aged 50 to 79 (odds ratio: 2.03, 95% confidence interval 1.68-2.45).

CONCLUSION

The risk of perioperative mortality in octogenarians undergoing emergency general surgical operations is high. The risk of perioperative death in this group is higher than in younger patients. Laparotomy, bowel resection, and ASA status above 3 carry the highest risk.

Impact of Surgery on Older Patients Hospitalized With an Acute Abdomen: Findings From the Older Persons Surgical Outcome Collaborative

Background: The impact of surgery compared to non-surgical management of older general surgical patients is not well researched.

Methods: We examined the association between management and adverse outcomes in a cohort of emergency general surgery patients aged > 65 years. This multi-center study included 727 patients (mean+/-SD, 77.1 ± 8.2 years, 54% female) admitted to five UK hospitals. Data were analyzed using multi-level crude and multivariable logistic regression. Outcomes were: mortality at Day 30 and 90, length of stay, and readmission within 30 days of discharge. Covariates assessed were management approach, age, sex, frailty, polypharmacy, anemia, and hypoalbuminemia.

Results: Approximately 25% of participants (n = 185) underwent emergency surgery. Frailty and albumin were associated with mortality at 30 (frailty OR = 3.52 [95% CI 1.66–7.49], albumin OR = 3.78 ([95% CI 1.53–9.31]), and 90 days post discharge (frailty OR = 3.20 [95% CI 1.86–5.51], albumin OR=3.25 [95% CI 1.70–6.19]) and readmission (frailty OR = 1.56 [95% CI (1.04–2.35)]). Surgically managed patients and frailty had increased odds of prolonged hospitalization (surgery OR = 5.69 [95% CI 3.67–8.80], frailty OR = 2.17 [95% CI 1.46–3.23]).

Conclusion: We found the impact of surgery on length of hospitalization in older surgical patients is substantial. Whether early comprehensive geriatric assessment and post-op rehabilitation would improve this outcome require further evaluation.

Emergency laparotomy in the older patient: factors predictive of 12-month mortality-Salford-POPS-GS. An observational study

INTRODUCTION

Although high rates of in-hospital mortality have been described in older patients undergoing emergency laparotomy (EL), less is known about longer-term outcomes in this population. We describe factors present at the time of hospital admission that influence 12-month survival in older patients.

METHODS

Observational study of patients aged 75 years and over, who underwent EL at our hospital between 8th September 2014 and 30th March 2017.

RESULTS

113 patients were included. Average age was 81.9 ± 4.7 years, female predominance (60/113), 3 (2.6%) lived in a care home, 103 (91.2%) and 79 (69.1%) were independent of personal and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs) and 8 (7.1%) had cognitive impairment. Median length of stay was 16 days ± 29.9 (0-269); in-hospital mortality 22.1% (25/113), post-operative 30-day, 90-day and 12-month mortality rates 19.5% (22), 24.8% (28) and 38.9% (44). 30-day and 12-month readmission rates 5.7% (5/88) and 40.9% (36). 12-month readmission was higher in frail patients, using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) score (64% 5-8 vs 31.7% 1-4, p = 0.006). Dependency for personal ADLs (6/10 (60%) dependent vs. 38/103 (36.8%) independent, p = 0.119) and cognitive impairment (5/8 (62.5%) impaired vs. 39/105 (37.1%) no impairment, p = 0.116) showed a trend towards higher 12-month mortality. On multivariate analysis, 12-month mortality was strongly associated with CFS 5-9 (HR 5.0403 (95% CI 1.719-16.982) and ASA classes III-V (HR 2.704 95% CI 1.032-7.081).

CONCLUSION

Frailty and high ASA class predict increased mortality at 12 months after emergency laparotomy. We advocate early engagement of multi-professional teams experienced in perioperative care of older patients.

Preoperative Risk Factors for Short-Term Postoperative Mortality of Acute Mesenteric Ischemia after Laparotomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective

Our objective was to comprehensively present the evidence of preoperative risk factors for short-term postoperative mortality of acute mesenteric ischemia after laparotomy.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched from January 2000 to January 2020. Studies evaluating the postoperative risk factors for short-term postoperative mortality of acute mesenteric ischemia after laparotomy were included. The outcome extracted were patients' demographics, medical history, and preoperative laboratory tests.

Results

Twenty studies (5011 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Studies were of high quality, with a median Newcastle-Ottawa Scale Score of 7. Summary short-term postoperative mortality was 44.38% (range, 18.80%–67.80%). Across included studies, 49 potential risk factors were examined, at least two studies. Meta-analysis of predictors based on more than three studies identified the following preoperative risk factors for higher short-term postoperative mortality risk: old age (odds ratio [OR], 1.90, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.57–2.30), arterial occlusive mesenteric ischemia versus mesenteric venous thrombosis (OR, 2.45, 95% CI 1.12–5.33), heart failure (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.03–1.72), renal disorders (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.24–2.07), and peripheral vascular disease (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.00–1.91). Nonsurvivors were older (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.32, 95% CI 0.24–0.40), had higher creatinine levels (SMD 0.50, 95% CI 0.25–0.75), and had lower platelet counts (SMD −0.32, 95% CI −0.50 to −0.14).

Conclusion

The short-term postoperative mortality of acute mesenteric ischemia who underwent laparotomy is still high. A better understanding of these risk factors may help in the early identification of high-risk patients, optimization of surgical procedure, and improvement of perioperative management.

Perioperative considerations in nonagenarians

OBJECTIVE

The nation's aging population presents novel perioperative challenges. Potential benefits of operative interventions must be scrutinized in relation to recoverable quality of life. The purpose of this study is to evaluate common risk calculators used for medical decision making in a nonagenarian patient population.

METHODS

Retrospective medical record review was performed on patients 90 years or older who underwent operative interventions requiring anesthesia at a large academic medical center between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2017. GraphPad 8.2.1 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Significant differences were found when data were stratified by age for elective versus emergent cases (P value < .0001), ability to return to baseline function (P value  = .0062), and mortality (P value < .0001). Significant differences were found in emergent and elective cases, ability to return to baseline function, readmissions, and mortality (all P values < .0001) when stratified by American Society of Anesthesiologists score. Ability of patients to return to baseline functionality after intervention was influenced by their preintervention level of functionality (P value = .0008). American College of Surgeons and Portsmouth Physiologic and Operative Severity Score for Enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity risk calculators underestimated the need for rehabilitation and overestimated mortality for this population (all P values < .0001).

CONCLUSION

Perioperative cares of the extreme geriatric population are complex and should be approached collaboratively. Rehabilitation and postoperative assistance resources should be assessed and used fully. Input from palliative care teams should be sought appropriately. End-of-life and escalation-of-care discussions should ideally be organized prior to emergent interventions. Frailty and risk calculators should be used and considered for formal implementation into the preoperative workflow.

Analyzing Outcomes Among Older Adults With Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infections in the United States

BACKGROUND

Necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTIs) encompass a group of severe, life-threatening diseases with high morbidity and mortality. Evidence suggests advanced age is associated with worse outcomes. To date, no large data sets exist describing outcomes in older individuals, and risk factor identification is lacking.

METHODS

Retrospective data were obtained from the 2015 Medicare 100% sample. Included in the analysis were those aged ≥65 y with a primary diagnosis of an NSTI (gas gangrene, necrotizing fasciitis, cutaneous gangrene, or Fournier's gangrene). Risk factors for in-hospital mortality and discharge disposition were examined. Continuous variables were assessed using central tendency, t-tests, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Categorical variables were assessed using the chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests. Statistical significance was defined as P < 0.05.

RESULTS

1427 patient records were reviewed. 59% of patients were male, and the overall mean age was 75.4±8.6 y. 1385 (97.0%) patients required emergency surgery for their NSTI diagnosis. The overall mortality was 5.3%. Several underlying comorbidities were associated with higher rates of mortality including cancer (OR: 3.50, P = 0.0009), liver disease (OR: 2.97, P = 0.03), and kidney disease (OR: 2.15, P = 0.01). While associated with high in-hospital mortality, these diagnoses were not associated with a difference in the rate of discharge to home compared with skilled nursing or rehab. Overall, patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities or rehab had higher rates of underlying comorbidities than patients who were discharged home (3 or more comorbid illness 84.3% versus 68.6%, P < 0.0001); however, no individual comorbid illness was associated with discharge location.

CONCLUSIONS

In our Medicare data set, we identified several medical comorbidities that are associated with increased rates of in-hospital mortality. Patients with underlying cancers had the highest odds of increased mortality. The effect on outcomes of the potentially immunosuppressive cancer treatments in these patients is unknown. These data suggest that patients with underlying illnesses, especially cancer, kidney disease, or liver disease have higher mortalities and are more likely to be discharged to skilled nursing facilities or rehab. It is unclear why these illnesses were associated with these worse outcomes while others including diabetes and heart disease were not. These data suggest that these particular comorbid illnesses may have special prognostic implications, although further analysis is necessary to identify the causative factors.

Factors Contributing to Extended Hospital Length of Stay in Emergency General Surgery†

BACKGROUND

Emergency general surgery (EGS) is a field characterized by disproportionately high costs, post-operative mortality, and complications. We attempted to identify independent factors predictive of an increased postoperative length of stay (LOS), a key contributor to economic burden and worse outcomes.

METHODS

The ACS-NSQIP database was queried for data from2005 to 2017. Current procedural terminology (CPT) codes were used to identify the most commonly performed EGS procedures: appendectomy, bowel resection, colectomy, and cholecystectomy. Cohorts above and below 75^th percentile LOS were determined, compared by preoperative variables, and evaluated with univariate and multivariate logistic regression to quantify risk.

RESULTS

Of 267,495 cases, 70,703 cases were above the 75^th percentile for LOS. A larger proportion of patients in the extended LOS group were 41 years or older (88.6% vs 45.7%). More Blacks (10.3% vs 6.7%) were observed in the extended LOS group. Age, race, cardiopulmonary, hepatic, and renal disease, diabetes, recent weight loss, steroid use, and sepsis history were significant factors on multivariate analysis but varied in terms of risk proportion by procedure. Age (61+), Black race, hypertension, sepsis, and cancer were significant for all 4 procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

Several factors are independently associated with extended LOS for those undergoing the most common EGS procedures. Five of these were associated with an increased LOS for all four procedures. These included, age (61+), hypertension, sepsis, cancer, and Black race.

Laparoscopic Repair of Perforated Peptic Ulcer in the Elderly: An Interim Analysis of the FRAILESEL Italian Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

The number of elderly patients requiring emergency surgical intervention has increased dramatically. Perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) complications, such as perforation, have remained relatively stable and associated morbidity remains between 10% and 20%. Advances in perioperative care have greatly improved the outcomes of laparoscopic emergency surgery, allowing increasing numbers of patients, even the elderly, to undergo safe repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and outcome of laparoscopic gastric repair in the elderly using the database of the FRAILESEL (Frailty and Emergency Surgery in the Elderly) study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis carried out on data of the FRAILESEL study. Data on all the elderly patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery for PPU from January 2017 to December 2017 at 36 Italian surgical departments were analyzed. Patients who underwent PPU repair were further divided into a laparoscopic gastroduodenal repair (LGR) cohort and an open gastroduodenal repair (OGR) cohort, and the clinicopathologic features of the patients in both the groups were compared.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Thirty-three patients (47.8%) underwent LGR. The LGR patients had less blood loss and shorter postoperative stay, even if the difference was not statistically significant. The mean operative time was significantively higher in the OGR (OGR 96.5±27.7 vs. LGR 78.6±16.3 P=0.000). The rate of death after laparoscopic surgery was similar to the rate of the open surgery. Multivariate analysis indicated that only age (P=0.018), admission haemoblogbin (Hb) level (P=0.006), platelet count (P=0.16), lactate level (P=0.47), and Mannheim Peritonitis Index (P=0.18) were independent variables associated with the risk of overall mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

LGR is safe and feasible in elderly patients with PPU and it is associated with better perioperative outcomes. However, patient selection and preoperative frailty evaluation in the elderly population are the key to achieving better outcomes.

Frailty in older patients undergoing emergency colorectal surgery: USA National Surgical Quality Improvement Program analysis

Background

Frailty is associated with advancing age and may result in adverse postoperative outcomes. A suspected growing elderly population needing emergency colorectal surgery stimulated this study of the prevalence and impact of frailty.

Methods

Elderly patients (defined as aged at least 65 years by Medicare and the United States Census Bureau) who underwent emergency colorectal resection between 2012 and 2016 were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program population database. The five-item modified frailty index (mFI-5) score was calculated, and patients stratified into groups 0, 1 or 2 +. Main outcome measures were the prevalence of frailty, and its impact on 30-day postoperative morbidity, mortality, reoperation, duration of hospital stay (LOS), discharge destination and readmission.

Results

A total of 10 025 patients were identified with a median age 75 years, of whom 41·8 per cent were men. The majority (87·7 per cent) had an ASA fitness grade of III or greater and 3129 (31·2 per cent) were frail (mFI-5 group 2+). Major morbidity occurred in one-third of patients and the postoperative mortality rate was 15·9 per cent. Some 52·0 per cent of patients had a prolonged hospital stay and 11·0 per cent were readmitted. Although most patients (88·0 per cent) lived independently before surgery, only 45·4 per cent were discharged home directly. Frailty (mFI-5 2+) predicted mortality, overall and major morbidity, reoperation, prolonged LOS, discharge to an institution and readmission, but frailty was independent of sex.

Conclusion

Frailty is associated with morbidity, mortality and loss of independence in elderly patients needing emergency colorectal surgery.

Patterns of prevalence and contemporary clinical management strategies in complicated acute biliary calculous disease: an ESTES 'snapshot audit' of practice

Background

Acute complications of biliary calculi are common, morbid, and complex to manage. Variability exists in the techniques utilized to treat these conditions at an individual surgeon and unit level.

Aim

To identify, through an international prospective nonrandomized cohort study, the epidemiology and areas of practice variability in management of acute complicated calculous biliary disease (ACCBD) and to correlate them against reported outcomes.

Methods

A preplanned analysis of the European Society of Trauma and Emergency Surgery (ESTES) 2018 Complicated Biliary Calculous Disease audit was performed. Patients undergoing emergency hospital admission with ACCBD between 1 October 2018 and 31 October 2018 were included. All eligible patients with acute complicated biliary calculous disease were recorded contemporaneously using a standardized predetermined protocol and a secure online database and followed-up through to 60 days from their admission.

Endpoints

A two-stage data collection strategy collecting patient demographics, details of operative, endoscopic and radiologic intervention, and outcome metrics. Outcome measures included mortality, surgical morbidity, ICU stay, timing of operative intervention, and length of hospital stay.

Results

Three hundred thirty-eight patients were included, with a mean age of 65 years and 54% were female. Diagnosis at admission were: cholecystitis (45.6%), biliary pancreatitis (21%), choledocholithiasis with and without cholangitis (13.9% and 18%). Index admission cholecystectomy was performed in just 50% of cases, and 28% had an ERCP performed. Morbidity and mortality were low.

Conclusion

This first ESTES snapshot audit, a purely descriptive collaborative study, gives rich ‘real world’ insights into local variability in surgical practice as compared to international guidelines, and how this may impact upon outcomes. These granular data will serve to improve overall patient care as well as being hypothesis generating and inform areas needing future prospective study.

No news is good news? Three-year postdischarge mortality of octogenarian and nonagenarian patients following emergency general surgery

BACKGROUND

Outcome data on the very elderly patients undergoing emergency general surgery (EGS) are sparse. We sought to examine short- and long-term mortality in the 80 plus years population following EGS.

METHODS

Using our institutional 2008-2018 EGS Database, all the 80 plus years patients undergoing EGS were identified. The data were linked to the Social Security Death Index to determine cumulative mortality rates up to 3 years after discharge. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine predictors of in-hospital and 1-year cumulative mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 385 patients were included with a mean age of 84 years; 54% were female. The two most common comorbidities were hypertension (76.1%) and cardiovascular disease (40.5%). The most common procedures performed were colectomy (20.0%), small bowel resection (18.2%), and exploratory laparotomy for other procedures (15.3%; e.g., internal hernia, perforated peptic ulcer). The overall in-hospital mortality was 18.7%. Cumulative mortality rates at 1, 2, and 3 years after discharge were 34.3%, 40.5%, and 43.4%, respectively. The EGS procedure associated with the highest 1-year mortality was colectomy (49.4%). Although hypertension, renal failure, hypoalbuminemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and elevated liver enzymes predicted in-hospital mortality, the only independent predictors of cumulative 1-year mortality were hypoalbuminemia (odds ratio, 2.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-4.27; p = 0.025) and elevated serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGOT) level (odds ratio, 2.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-4.70; p = 0.029) at initial presentation. Patients with both factors had a cumulative 1-year mortality rate of 75.0%.

CONCLUSION

More than half of the very elderly patients undergoing major EGS were still alive at 3 years postdischarge. The combination of hypoalbuminemia and elevated liver enzymes predicted the highest 1-year mortality. Such information can prove useful for patient and family counseling preoperatively.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic, Level III.

The use of emergency laparoscopy for acute abdomen in the elderly: the FRAILESEL Italian Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

As the world population is aging rapidly, emergency abdominal surgery for acute abdomen in the elderly represents a global issue, both in developed and developing countries. Data regarding all the elderly patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery from January 2017 to December 2017 at 36 Italian surgical departments were analyzed with the aim to appraise the contemporary reality regarding the use of emergency laparoscopy for acute abdomen in the elderly. 1993 patients were enrolled. 1369 (68.7%) patients were operated with an open technique; whereas, 624 (31.3%) underwent a laparoscopic operation. The postoperative morbidity rate was 32.6%, with a statically significant difference between the open and the laparoscopic groups (36.2% versus 22.1%, p < 0.001). The reported mortality rate was 8.8%, with a statistically significant difference between the open and the laparoscopic groups (11.2% versus 2.2%, p < 0.001). Our results demonstrated that patients in the ASA II (58.1%), ASA III (68.7%) and ASA IV (88.5%) groups were operated with the traditional open technique in most of the cases. Only a small percentage of patients underwent laparoscopy for perforated gastro-duodenal ulcer repair (18.9%), adhesiolyses with/without small bowel resection (12.2%), and large bowel resection (10.7%). Conversion to open technique was associated with a higher mortality rate (11.1% versus 2.2%, p < 0.001) and overall morbidity (38.9% versus 22.1%, p = 0.001) compared with patients who did not undergo conversion. High creatinine (p < 0.001) and glycaemia (p = 0.006) levels, low hemoglobin levels (p < 0.001), oral anticoagulation therapy (p = 0.001), acute respiratory failure (p < 0.001), presence of malignancy (p = 0.001), SIRS (p < 0.001) and open surgical approach (p < 0.001) were associated with an increased risk of postoperative morbidity. Regardless of technical progress, elderly patients undergoing emergency surgery are at very high risk for in-hospital complications. A detailed analysis of complications and mortality in the present study showed that almost 9% of elderly patients died after surgery for acute abdomen, and over 32% developed complications.

Life after 90: Predictors of mortality and performance of the ACS-NSQIP risk calculator in 4,724 nonagenarian patients undergoing emergency general surgery

BACKGROUND

The decision to emergently operate on nonagenarian patients (NONAs) can be complex due to the uncertainty about outcomes and goals of care at this advanced age. We sought to study: (1) the outcomes and predictors of mortality for NONAs undergoing emergency general surgery (EGS) and (2) the accuracy of ACS-NSQIP mortality risk calculator in this special population.

METHODS

Using the 2007 to 2015 ACS-NSQIP database, we included all patients older than 90 years of age who underwent an emergent operation with a Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code for "digestive system." Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of 30-day mortality. NONAs' mortality rates for different combinations of risk factors were also studied and compared to the ACS-NSQIP calculator-predicted mortality rates.

RESULTS

Out of a total of 4,456,809 patients, 4,724 NONAs were included. The overall 30-day patient mortality and morbidity rates were 21% and 45%, respectively. In multivariable analyses, several independent predictors of 30-day mortality were identified, including recent history of weight loss, history of steroid use, smoking, functional dependence, hypoalbuminemia and sepsis or septic shock. The mortality among NONAs with a history of steroid use and a recent history of weight loss was 100%. Similarly, the mortality of NONAs with recent history of weight loss who presented with preoperative septic shock was 93%. The ACS-NSQIP calculator significantly and consistently underestimated the risk of mortality in all NONAs undergoing EGS.

CONCLUSION

Most NONAs undergoing EGS survive the hospital stay and the first 30 postoperative days, even in the presence of significant preexisting comorbidities. However, the combination of recent weight loss with either steroid use or septic shock nearly ensures mortality and should be used in the discussions with patients and families before a decision to operate is made. The ACS-NSQIP surgical risk calculator should be used with caution in these high-risk patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic study, level III.

Affording unavoidable emergency surgical care - The lived experiences and payment coping strategies of households in Ibadan metropolis, Southwestern Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Pre-payment and risk pooling schemes, central to the idea of universal health coverage, should protect households from catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment; particularly when emergency care is required. Inadequate financial protection consequent on surgical emergencies occurs despite the existence of risk-pooling schemes. This study documented the experiences and coping strategies of slum and non-slum dwellers in a southwestern metropolis of Nigeria who had undergone emergency surgery.

METHODS

In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 participants (13 slums dwellers, 18 non-slum dwellers) who had recently paid for emergency surgical care in Ibadan. Patients who had experienced catastrophic health expenditure from the use of emergency surgical care were identified and people who paid for the care were purposively selected for the interviews. Using an in-depth interview guide, information on the experiences and overall coping strategies during and after the hospitalization was collected. Data were analyzed inductively using the thematic approach.

RESULTS

The mean age of the 31 participants (consisting of 7 men and 24 women) was 31 ± 5.6years. Apathy to savings limited the preparation for unplanned healthcare needs. Choice of hospital was determined by word of mouth, perceptions of good quality or prompt care and availability of staff. Social networks were relied on widely as a coping mechanism before and during the admission. Patients that were unable to pay experienced poor and humiliating treatment (in severe cases, incarceration). Inability to afford care was exacerbated by double billing and extraneous charges. It was opined that health care should be more affordable for all and that the current National Health Insurance Scheme, that was operating sub-optimally, should be strengthened appropriately for all to benefit.

CONCLUSION

The study highlights households' poor attitude to health-related savings and pre-payment into a social solidarity fund to cover the costs of emergency surgical care. It also highlights the factors influencing costs of emergency surgical care and the role of social networks in mitigating the high costs of care. Improving financial protection from emergency surgical care would entail promoting a positive attitude to health-related savings, social solidarity and extending the benefits of social health insurance.

Prospective evaluation of preoperative cognitive impairment and postoperative morbidity in geriatric patients undergoing emergency general surgery

BACKGROUND

Cognitive impairment (CI) is common in geriatric patients. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and impact of CI on outcomes in geriatric patients undergoing emergency general surgery (EGS).

METHODS

We performed a (2017-2018) prospective analysis of patients (age ≥65y) who underwent EGS. Cognition was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Patients were stratified into: CI (MoCA score<26) and no-CI (MoCA≥26). Outcomes were the prevalence of CI, in-hospital complications, discharged to rehab/skilled nursing facility (SNF), and mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 142 patients were enrolled. Overall prevalence of CI was 20%. Patients with CI had higher rates of complications (OR 1.6 [1.4-1.9]; p = 0.01), and discharge to rehab/SNF (OR 2.2 [2.0-2.5]; p = 0.03). There was no difference in mortality (OR 1.1 [0.6-1.8]; p = 0.24) between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

One in five geriatric EGS patients has CI. It is associated with higher complications and adverse discharge. Cognitive assessment should be included in preoperative risk stratification.

Prospective Study of Factors Associated With Postoperative Delirium After Urgent Abdominal Surgery

INTRODUCTION

Delirium is a frequent complication in elderly patients after urgent abdominal surgery.

METHODS

Prospective study of consecutive patients aged ≥65years who had undergone urgent abdominal surgery from 2017-2019. The following variables were recorded: age, sex, ASA, physiological state, cognitive impairment, frailty (FRAIL Scale), functional dependence (Barthel Scale), quality of life (Euroqol-5D-VAS), nutritional status (MNA-SF), preoperative diagnosis, type of surgery (BUPA Classification), approach and diagnosis of postoperative delirium (Confusion Assessment Method). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to analyze the correlation of these variables with delirium.

RESULTS

The study includes 446 patients with a median age of 78years, 63.6% were ASA ≥III and 8% had prior cognitive impairment. 13.2% were frail and 5.4% of the patients had a severe or total degree of dependence. 13.6% developed delirium in the postoperative period. In the univariate analysis, all the variables were statistically significant except for sex, type of surgery (BUPA) and duration. In the multivariate analysis the associated factors were: age (P<.001; OR: 1,08; 95%CI: 1,038-1,139), ASA (P=.026; OR: 3.15; 95%CI: 1.149-8.668), physiological state (P<.001; OR: 5.8; 95%CI: 2.176-15.457), diagnosis (P=.006) and cognitive impairment (P<.001; OR: 5.8; 95%CI: 2.391-14.069).

CONCLUSION

The factors associated with delirium are age, ASA, physiological state in the emergency room, preoperative diagnosis and prior cognitive impairment.

Evaluating outcomes following emergency laparotomy in the North of England and the impact of the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit - A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Emergency laparotomy is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Current trends suggest improvements have been made in recent years, with increased survival and shorter lengths of stay in hospital. The National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) has evaluated participating hospitals in England and Wales and their individual outcomes since 2013. This study aims to establish temporal trends for patients undergoing emergency laparotomy and evaluate the influence of NELA.

METHODS

Data for emergency laparotomies admitted to NHS hospitals in the Northern Deanery between 2001 and 2016 were collected, including demographics, co-morbidities, diagnoses, operations undertaken and outcomes. The primary outcome of interest was in-hospital death within 30 days of admission. Cox-regression analysis was undertaken with adjustment for covariates.

RESULTS

There were 2828 in-hospital deaths from 24,291 laparotomies within 30 days of admission (11.6%). Overall 30-day mortality significantly reduced during the 15-year period studied from 16.3% (2001-04), to 8.1% during 2013-16 (p < 0.001). After multivariate adjustment, laparotomies undertaken in more recent years were associated with a lower mortality risk compared to earlier years (2013-16: HR 0.73, p < 0.001). There was a significant improvement in 30-day postoperative mortality year-on-year during the NELA period (from 9.1 to 7.1%, p = 0.039). However, there was no difference in postoperative mortality for patients who underwent laparotomy during NELA (2013-16) compared with the preceding three years (both 8.1%, p = 0.526).

DISCUSSION

30 day postoperative mortality for emergency laparotomy has improved over the past 15-years, with significantly reduced mortality risk in recent years. However, it is unclear if NELA has yet had a measurable effect on 30-day post-operative mortality.

Prospective Evaluation of Delirium in Geriatric Patients Undergoing Emergency General Surgery

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of delirium and its impact on outcomes after emergency general surgery (EGS) remain unexplored. The aims of our study were to assess the impact of frailty on delirium and the impact of delirium on outcomes in geriatric EGS patients.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a 1-year (2017) prospective cohort analysis of all geriatric (age ≥ 65 years) patients who underwent EGS. Frailty was calculated using the Emergency General Surgery-Specific Frailty Index (ESFI). Delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). Patients were dichotomized as delirious or non-delirious. We performed regression analysis controlling for demographics, admission vitals, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, comorbidity, and the diagnosis and type of surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 163 patients underwent emergency general surgery and were included. Mean age was 71 ± 7 years, and 59% were male. Overall, the incidence of postoperative delirium was 26%. Patients who developed postoperative delirium were more likely to be frail (40% vs 14%, p < 0.01), on more than 3 medications (29% vs 18%, p < 0.01), and were more likely to have 3 or more comorbidities (32% vs 21%, p < 0.01). On regression analysis, frail status (odds ratio [OR] 3.7 [2.4-4.2], p < 0.01) and receiving more than 3 medications (OR 1.3 [range 1.1-1.4], p < 0.01) were independent predictors of developing postoperative delirium. An episode of delirium was associated with longer hospital length of stay (LOS) (6 days vs 3 days, p < 0.01), higher odds of ICU admission (OR 2 [1.3-4.5], p < 0.01), longer ICU LOS (2 days vs 1 day, p < 0.01), and higher odds of unplanned intubation (OR 1.8 [1.2-3.4], p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of delirium after EGS was 26%. Frailty and polypharmacy were associated with increased risk of delirium. Delirium appears to be associated with higher rates of in-hospital adverse events.

Association of Geriatric-Specific Variables with 30-Day Hospital Readmission Risk of Elderly Surgical Patients: A NSQIP Analysis

BACKGROUND

Elderly patients (65 years of age and older) undergo an increasing number of operations performed annually in the US and they present with unique healthcare needs. Preventing postoperative readmission remains an important challenge to improving surgical care. This study examined whether geriatric-specific variables were independently associated with postoperative readmissions of elderly patients.

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Geriatric Surgery Research File (GSRF) was joined with the ACS NSQIP Participant Use Data Files for 2014 to 2016. This data set included 13 GSRF variables and 26 ACS NSQIP variables. Associations between clinically relevant variables and readmission were tested with multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

The data represented 6,039 general surgery patients age 65 years and older. Fifty-eight percent of patients had colorectal operations, 19% pancreatic or hepatobiliary, 15% hernia, 4% thyroid or esophageal, and 3% had appendix operations. Twenty-four percent of patients experienced an NSQIP-defined 30-day postoperative complication and 3% died within 30 days after operation. Eleven percent of patients had unplanned 30-day readmission. Standard NSQIP variables, including 30-day composite morbidity (odds ratio [OR] 5.11; 95% CI, 4.24 to 6.16; p < 0.001), reoperation (OR 2.8; 95% CI, 2.07 to 3.79; p < 0.001), and steroid use (1.42; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.96; p = 0.03) were associated with readmission. In addition, GSRF variables, including incompetent on admission (OR 1.63; 95% CI, 1.11 to 2.38; p = 0.01), fall risk at discharge (OR 1.42; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.82; p = 0.005), use of mobility aid (OR 1.26; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.56; p = 0.03), and discharged home with skilled care (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.49; p = 0.04) were associated with readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

Four GSRF and 3 current standard ACS NSQIP variables were important in the evaluation of postoperative readmission of elderly patients. Geriatric-specific variables contributed to the explanation of the relationship between clinical variables and readmissions in elderly surgical patients.

Association between preadmission frailty and care level at discharge in older adults undergoing emergency laparotomy

Background

Older adults undergoing emergency abdominal surgery have significantly poorer outcomes than younger adults. For those who survive, the level of care required on discharge from hospital is unknown and such information could guide decision-making. The ELF (Emergency Laparotomy and Frailty) study aimed to determine whether preoperative frailty in older adults was associated with increased dependence at the time of discharge.

Methods

The ELF study was a UK-wide multicentre prospective cohort study of older patients (65 years or more) undergoing emergency laparotomy during March and June 2017. The objective was to establish whether preoperative frailty was associated with increased care level at discharge compared with preoperative care level. The analysis used a multilevel logistic regression adjusted for preadmission frailty, patient age, sex and care level.

Results

A total of 934 patients were included from 49 hospitals. Mean(s.d.) age was 76·2(6·8) years, with 57·6 per cent women; 20·2 per cent were frail. Some 37·4 per cent of older adults had an increased care level at discharge. Increasing frailty was associated with increased discharge care level, with greater predictive power than age. The adjusted odds ratio for an increase in care level was 4·48 (95 per cent c.i. 2·03 to 9·91) for apparently vulnerable patients (Clinical Frailty Score (CFS) 4), 5·94 (2·54 to 13·90) for those mildly frail (CFS 5) and 7·88 (2·97 to 20·79) for those moderately or severely frail (CFS 6 or 7), compared with patients who were fit.

Conclusion

Over 37 per cent of older adults undergoing emergency laparotomy required increased care at discharge. Frailty scoring was a significant predictor, and should be integrated into all acute surgical units to aid shared decision-making and discharge planning.

How best to palliate and treat emergency conditions in geriatric patients with colorectal cancer

Almost one third of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases are diagnosed in an emergency setting, mostly among geriatric patients. Clinical scenarios are often complex and decision making delicate. Besides the obvious need to consider the patient's and/or family and care givers' desires, the surgeon should be able to make the best educated guess on future outcomes in three areas: oncological prognosis, morbidity and mortality risk, and long-term functional loss. Using simple and brief tools for frailty screening reasonable treatment goals with curative or palliative intent can be planned. The most frequent clinical scenarios of CRC in emergency are bowel obstruction and perforation. We propose treatment algorithms based on assessment of the patient's overall reserve and discuss the indications, techniques and impact of a stoma in the geriatric patient. Bridge to surgery strategies may be best adapted to help the frail geriatric patient overcome the acute disease and maybe return to previous state of function. Post-operative morbidity and mortality rates are high in emergency surgery for CRC, but if the geriatric patient survives the post-operative period, oncological prognosis seems to be similar to younger patients. Because the occurrence of complications is the strongest predictor of functional decline and death, post-operative care plays a major role to optimize outcomes. Future studies should further investigate emergency surgery of CRC in the older adults focusing in particular on functional outcomes in order to help physicians counsel patients and families for a tailored treatment.

Frailty and functional decline after emergency abdominal surgery in the elderly: a prospective cohort study

Background

Frailty has been associated with an increased risk of adverse postoperative outcomes in elderly patients. We examined the impact of preoperative frailty on loss of functional independence following emergency abdominal surgery in the elderly.

Methods

This prospective cohort study was performed at a tertiary hospital, enrolling patients 65 years of age and above who underwent emergency abdominal surgery from June 2016 to February 2018. Premorbid variables, perioperative characteristics and outcomes were collected. Two frailty measures were compared in this study-the Modified Fried's Frailty Criteria (mFFC) and Modified Frailty Index-11 (mFI-11). Patients were followed-up for 1 year.

Results

A total of 109 patients were prospectively recruited. At baseline, 101 (92.7%) were functionally independent, of whom seven (6.9%) had loss of independence at 1 year; 28 (25.7%) and 81 (74.3%) patients were frail and non-frail (by mFFC) respectively. On univariate analysis, age, Charlson Comorbidity Index and frailty (mFFC) (univariate OR 13.00, 95% CI 2.21-76.63, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with loss of functional independence at 1 year. However, frailty, as assessed by mFI-11, showed a weaker correlation than mFFC (univariate OR 4.42, 95% CI 0.84-23.12, p = 0.06). On multivariable analysis, only premorbid frailty (by mFFC) remained statistically significant (OR 15.63, 95% CI 2.12-111.11, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The mFFC is useful for frailty screening amongst elderly patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery and is a predictor for loss of functional independence at 1 year. Including the risk of loss of functional independence in perioperative discussions with patients and caregivers is important for patient-centric emergency surgical care. Early recognition of this at-risk group could help with discharge planning and priority for post-discharge support should be considered.

The Usefulness of Inflammation-based Prognostic Scores for the Prediction of Postoperative Mortality in Patients Who Underwent Intestinal Resection for Acute Intestinal Ischemia

Objective

The current study was conducted to clarify whether the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are clinically useful in predicting postoperative mortality among patients undergoing surgery for acute intestinal ischemia (AII).

Materials and methods

The study was conducted as a retrospective investigation of 37 consecutive patients operated for AII between January 2014 and September 2019. Data regarding potential prognostic factors, including age, sex, preoperative white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts were obtained from medical records.

Results

Univariate analysis revealed that age, WBC, and neutrophil count were predictors of postoperative mortality. In multivariate analysis, age (OR =1.14; 95% CI, 1.005-1.303; P=0.02) was found to be the only independent variable predicting postoperative mortality.

Conclusions

Preoperative NLR and PLR cannot be used as independent variables to predict postoperative 30-day mortality in patients with AII who underwent surgery.

Acute kidney injury is independently associated with mortality and resource use after emergency general surgery operations

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of severe perioperative renal dysfunction in high-acuity patients has not been well-explored at the national level. The present study aimed to evaluate the trends in the incidence of perioperative acute kidney injury and renal replacement therapy as well as associated mortality among patients undergoing an emergency general surgery operation.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study using the National Inpatient Sample to identify all adult patients (>18 y) without chronic kidney disease who underwent an emergency general surgery procedure from 2008 to 2016. The study cohort was stratified based on presence of acute kidney injury and need for renal replacement therapy postoperatively. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to predict the odds of mortality and composite morbidity. Nonparametric trend analyses of acute kidney injury and renal replacement therapy incidence and associated mortality were performed.

RESULTS

Of an estimated 5,862,657 patients who underwent an emergency general surgery procedure during the study period, 7.4% patients developed an acute kidney injury and 0.48% patients required renal replacement therapy. Overall, the incidence of acute kidney injury (5.3%-19.4%) and renal replacement therapy (0.43%-0.93%) increased (P < .0001) over the study period. Even without need for renal replacement therapy, acute kidney injury was associated with greater odds of mortality and composite morbidity (adjusted odds ratio 5.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.1-5.3) and mortality (adjusted odds ratio = 2.20, 95% CI 2.3-2.4), as well as greater costs of hospitalization and duration of stay.

CONCLUSION

In this national study, we found that the incidence of acute kidney injury and renal replacement therapy after an emergency general surgery operation has increased. Both acute renal failure and hemodialysis were associated with much greater odds of morbidity and mortality. The apparent increase in the rate of acute kidney injury and renal replacement therapy warrant further investigation of mechanisms for monitoring and limiting the impact of organ malperfusion associated with emergency general surgery operations.

Beta-blocker Therapy is Associated with Decreased 1-year Mortality After Emergency Laparotomy in Geriatric Patients

Background and Aims:

Emergency laparotomy is associated with a great risk of mortality in the elderly. The hyperadrenergic state induced by surgical trauma may play an important role in the pathophysiology of this increased risk. Studies have shown that beta-blocker exposure may be associated with decreased morbidity and mortality in the perioperative period. We aimed to study the effect of beta-blocker on mortality in geriatric patients undergoing emergency laparotomy.

Material and Methods:

This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent emergency laparotomy between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2016 at a single institution. The outcomes of interest were the association between post-operative complications and in-hospital and 1-year mortality in patients on beta-blocker therapy (BB(+)) and those who were not (BB(−)). The Poisson regression analysis was used to evaluate the association.

Results:

A total of 192 patients were included of whom 62 (32.2%) had pre-operative beta-blocker therapy with continued exposure during their hospital stay. The in-hospital mortality was 17.7% in the BB(+) and 23.8% in the BB(−) cohorts ( p = 0.441). One-year mortality was significantly lower in the BB(+) group compared to the BB(−) group (30.6% versus 47.7%; p = 0.038). After adjusting for confounders, the incidence of deaths during 1 year post-operatively decreased by 35% in the BB(+) group (incidence rate ratio = 0.65, p = 0.004). No significant differences in the incidence of post-operative complications between the two groups could be measured.

Conclusion:

Beta-blocker therapy may be associated with reduced 1-year mortality following emergency laparotomy in geriatric patients.

The impact of computed tomography-assessed sarcopenia on outcomes for trauma patients - a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Sarcopenia is the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength and general decline in function associated with age, and has previously been shown to be a predictor of poor outcomes following surgery. Computed tomography (CT)-assessed sarcopenia has been proposed to be an independent predictor of outcomes for trauma patients. This systematic review aims to determine the impact of CT-assessed sarcopenia on patient mortality following trauma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. EMBASE, MEDLINE and CENTRAL databases were searched from database inception to 26 November 2018. Bibliographies of included articles were hand searched for potential articles. All observational studies which included trauma patients who had skeletal muscle mass or density assessed by CT were included in the review. Two authors independently performed the search with decisions reached by consensus. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager v5.3 using a random effects model. The primary outcome was all cause mortality, as established a priori.

RESULTS

Following an initial search of 1984 records, a total of 20 retrospective observational studies were included for qualitative analysis. Ten of these studies consisting of a pooled, partly-overlapping, 2867 patients were included in the meta-analysis. There was a wide variation in the reported prevalence of sarcopenia (25.0-71.1%). Sarcopenia patients were at a significantly increased risk of mortality during inpatient stay (RR 1.96 [95%CI 1.30-2.94], p =  0.001), at 30 days (RR 1.60 [95%CI 1.21-2.13], p =  0.001) and at 1-year (RR 3.11 [95%CI 1.94-4.96], p <  0.00001). There was no significant difference in total complications encountered, ICU duration or total inpatient stay.

CONCLUSION

Sarcopenia identified by CT is associated with increased risk of inpatient, 30-day, and 1-year mortality in trauma patients.

Twenty-year study of in-hospital and postdischarge mortality following emergency general surgical admission

Background

Emergency general surgery (EGS) patients have a higher mortality than those having elective surgery. Few studies have investigated changes in EGS-associated mortality over time or explored mortality rates after discharge. The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive, population-based analysis of mortality in EGS patients over a 20-year time frame.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of all adult EGS admissions in Scotland between 1996 and 2015. Data were obtained from national records. Co-morbidities were defined by Charlson Co-morbidity Index, and operations were coded by OPCS-4 classifications. Linear and multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate changes over time.

Results

Among 1 450 296 patients, the overall inpatient, 30-day, 90-day and 1-year mortality rates were 1·8, 3·8, 6·4 and 12·5 per cent respectively. Mortality was influenced by age at admission, co-morbidity, operation performed and date of admission (all P < 0·001), and improved with time on subgroup analysis by age, co-morbidity and operation status. Medium-term mortality was high: the 1-year mortality rate in patients aged over 75 years was 35·6 per cent. The 1-year mortality rate in highly co-morbid patients decreased from 75·1 to 57·1 per cent over the time frame of the study (P < 0·001).

Conclusion

Mortality after EGS in Scotland has reduced significantly over the past 20 years. This analysis of medium-term mortality after EGS admission demonstrates strikingly high rates, and postdischarge death rates are higher than is currently appreciated.

High-performance acute care hospitals: Excelling across multiple emergency general surgery operations in the geriatric patient

BACKGROUND

As the geriatric population grows, the need for hospitals performing high quality emergency general surgery (EGS) on older patients will increase. Identifying clusters of high-performing geriatric emergency general surgery hospitals would substantiate the need for in-depth analyses of hospital-specific structures and practices that benefit older EGS patients. The objectives of this study were therefore to identify clusters of hospitals based on mortality performance for geriatric patients undergoing common EGS operations and to determine if hospital performance was similar for all operation types.

METHODS

Hospitals in the California State Inpatient Database were included if they performed a range of eight common EGS operations in patients 65 years or older, with a minimum requirement of three of each operation performed over 2 years. Multivariable beta regression models were created to define hospital-level risk-adjusted mortality. Centroid cluster analysis was used to identify groups of hospitals based on mortality and to determine if mortality-performance differed by operation.

RESULTS

One hundred seven hospitals were included, performing a total of 24,279 operations in older patients. Hospitals separated into three distinct clusters: high, average, and low performers. The high-performing hospitals had survival rates 1 to 2 standard deviations better than the low-performers (p < 0.001). For each cluster, high performance in any one EGS operation consistently translated into high performance across all EGS operations.

CONCLUSION

Hospitals conducting EGS operations in the geriatric patient population cluster into three distinct groups based on their survival performance. High-performing hospitals significantly outperform the average and low performers across every operation. The high-performers achieve reliable, high-quality results regardless of operation type. Further qualitative research is needed to investigate the perioperative drivers of hospital performance in the geriatric EGS population.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Study Type Prognostic, level III.

Pre- and Perioperative Risk Factors of Post Hip Fracture Surgery Walking Failure in the Elderly

Introduction:

Osteoporotic hip fractures are a major problem. They increase mortality, morbidity, and functional decline. Recovery of ambulatory status is an essential prerequisite for older adults living in a normal environment. The main objective of this study was to investigate walking failure at 3 to 6 months after hip fracture surgery with the aim of identifying pre- and perioperative risk factors associated with it.

Methods:

A total of 120 participants (>65 years) were recruited following hip fracture surgery at a teaching hospital. Walking status was assessed on average 4.4 ± 1.3 months after hip fracture surgery and compared with prefracture walking status. The participants were divided into 2 groups according to walking status (group 1: ambulatory; group 2: nonambulatory) and risk factors associated with a failure to walk were determined using binominal logistic regression analysis.

Results:

The rate of recovery to prefracture ambulatory status was about 18.3% and 25% of participants could not walk at all. Risk factors for not being able to walk at all included poor prefracture ambulatory status and living at a long care facility as nonmodifiable factors, whereas a shorter length of stay before surgery and having a longer total hospitalization periods were modifiable factors.

Conclusion:

Walking recovery after hip fracture surgery was very poor at 3 to 6 months after hip fracture surgery. Based on our findings, older adults living in a long care facility should be provided their medical and functional needs through professional health-care providers and systematic health delivery systems. The therapeutic management for underlying diseases affecting surgery should precede unconditional early surgery. Older adults hospitalized during longer periods should be focused on their functional care.

Hospital Operative Volume as a Quality Indicator for General Surgery Operations Performed Emergently in Geriatric Patients

BACKGROUND

Within the growing geriatric population, there is an increasing need for emergency operations. Optimizing outcomes can require a structured system of surgical care based on key quality indicators. To investigate this, the current study sought to answer 2 questions. First, to what degree does hospital emergency operative volume impact mortality for geriatric patients undergoing emergency general surgery (EGS) operations? Second, at what procedure-specific hospital volume will geriatric patients undergoing an emergency operation achieve at or better than average mortality risk?

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study of geriatric patients (aged 65 years and older) who underwent 1 of 10 EGS operations identified from the California State Inpatient Database (2010 to 2011). β-Logistic generalized linear regression was used, with the hospital as the unit of analysis, to investigate the relationship between hospital operative volume and in-hospital riskv-adjusted mortality. Hospital operative volume thresholds to optimize probability of survival were defined.

RESULTS

There were 41,860 operations evaluated at 299 hospitals. For each operation, mortality decreased as hospital emergency operative volume increased (p < 0.001 for each operation); for every standardized increase in volume (meaning +1 natural logarithm of volume), the reduction in mortality ranged from 14% for colectomy to 61% for appendectomy. Hospital volume thresholds, which optimize to 95% probability of survival, varied by procedure, with a mean of 14 operations over 2 years. More than 50% of hospitals did not meet the threshold benchmarks, representing 22% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Survival rates for geriatric patients were improved substantially when emergency operations were performed at hospitals with higher operative volumes. Consistent with all active Quality Programs of the American College of Surgeons, hospital operative volume appears to be an important metric of surgical quality for older patients undergoing emergency operations.

Operative and prognostic parameters associated with elective versus emergency surgery in a retrospective cohort of elderly patients

AIM

To evaluate operative and prognostic parameters associated with elective versus emergency surgery in a retrospective cohort of elderly patients.

METHODS

A total of 533 geriatric patients (aged ≥ 65 years, median age: 73.0 years, 50.7% were females) who underwent either elective surgery (n = 285) or emergency surgery (n = 248) were included in this study. Data on patient demographics, co-morbid disorders, type of surgery and anesthesia, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status (PS) classification, length of hospital stay, length of ICU stay, hospitalization outcome, prognosis (survivor, non-survivor) were obtained from medical records.

RESULTS

Emergency surgery group was associated with higher prevalence of ASA-PS III (48.8 vs. 25.6%, p < 0.001) and ASA-PS IV (19.0 vs. 0.4%, p < 0.001) categories and higher mortality rates (20.6 vs. 4.9% vs. p < 0.001) when compared to the elective surgery group. ASA-PS IV category was associated with oldest patient age (median 82.0 vs. 71.0 years for ASA-PS I and II, p < 0.001 for each and versus 75.0 years for ASA-PS III, p < 0.05) and highest mortality rate (35.4 vs. 3.4% for ASA-PS I, 6.0% for ASA-PS II and 16.5% for ASA-PS III, p < 0.001) as compared with other categories.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our findings in a retrospective cohort of elderly surgical patients revealed high prevalence of co-morbidities, predominance of ASA-PS II or ASA-PS III classes and an overall in-hospital mortality rate of 12.2%. Emergency as compared with elective surgery seems to be associated with older age, male gender, ASA-PS III and IV classes, higher likelihood of postoperative ICU transfer and higher mortality rates.

Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Reversal of Coagulopathy in Emergency General Surgery Patients

BACKGROUND

Coagulopathy can delay or complicate surgical diseases that require emergent surgical treatment. Prothrombin complex concentrates (PCC) provide concentrated coagulation factors which may reverse coagulopathy more quickly than plasma (FFP) alone. We aimed to determine the time to operative intervention in coagulopathic emergency general surgery patients receiving either PCC or FFP. We hypothesize that PCC administration more rapidly normalizes coagulopathy and that the time to operation is diminished compared to FFP alone.

METHODS

Single institution retrospective review was performed for coagulopathic EGS patients during 2/1/2008 to 8/1/2016. Patients were divided into three groups (1) PCC alone (2) FFP alone and (3) PCC and FFP. The primary outcome was the duration from clinical decision to operate to the time of incision. Summary and univariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Coagulopathic EGS patients (n = 183) received the following blood products: PCC (n = 20, 11%), FFP alone (n = 119, 65%) and PCC/FFP (n = 44, 24%). The mean (± SD) patient age was 71 ± 13 years; 60% were male. The median (IQR) Charlson comorbidity index was similar in all three groups (PCC = 5(4-6), FFP = 5(4-7), PCC/FFP = 5(4-6), p = 0.33). The mean (± SD) dose of PCC administered was similar in the PCC/FFP group and the PCC alone group (2539 ± 1454 units vs. 3232 ± 1684, p = .09). The mean (±SD) time to incision in the PCC alone group was significantly lower than the FFP alone group (6.0 ± 3.6 vs. 8.8 ± 5.0 h, p = 0.01). The mean time to incision in the PCC + FFP group was also significantly lower than the FFP alone group (7.1 ± 3.6 vs. 8.8 ± 5.0, p = 0.03). The incidence of thromboembolic complications was similar in all three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

PCC, alone or in combination with FFP, reduced INR and time to surgery effectively and safely in coagulopathic EGS patients without an apparent increased risk of thromboembolic events, when compared to FFP use alone.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV single institutional retrospective review.

A Simple Screening Tool to Predict Outcomes in Older Adults Undergoing Emergency General Surgery

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether the Flemish version of the Triage Risk Screening Tool (fTRST) can be used to accurately assess frailty in an emergency setting.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

of a tertiary referral hospital.

PATIENTS

All individuals aged 70 and older consecutively admitted to the emergency surgery unit with an urgent need for abdominal surgery between December 2015 and May 2016 who met inclusion criteria (N=110).

MEASUREMENTS

Individuals were screened with the fTRST and additional metrics such as the age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index and American Society of Anesthesiology score. Thirty- and 90-day postoperative complications where recorded. Regression analyses were performed to identify possible preoperative predictors of adverse outcomes.

RESULTS

Thirty-day major complications (Clavien-Dindo Classification 3-5) occurred in 28.2% of participants (n=31). fTRST had the highest correlation with major complications (odds ratio (OR) = 7.42). All participants who died within 30 days of surgery has a fTRST score of 2 or greater (area under the receiver operating curve (AUC)=71.3). When risk factors for overall 90-day mortality were analyzed, a fTRST score of 2 or greater had sensitivity of 96% (95% confidence interval CI=79.6-99.9%), specificity of 43.5% (95% CI=32.8-54.7%) (AUC=69.8%; OR=18.50, 95% CI=2.39-143.11, p = .005). The average length of hospital stay was more than twice as long in the group with a fTRST score of 2 or greater (15.2 days) than in those with a score less than 2 (6.6 days) (p = .005).

CONCLUSION

The fTRST is an effective tool to predict mortality, morbidity, and length of stay after emergency surgery and can therefore be used to anticipate postoperative course, determine care goals, and plan for involvement of a dedicated geriatric care team. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:309-316, 2019.

Frailty and anesthesia - risks during and post-surgery

Frailty is a state of decreased physiologic reserve and resistance to stressors. Its prevalence increases with age and is estimated to be 26% in those aged above 85 years. As the population ages, frailty will be increasingly seen in surgical patients receiving anesthesia. Here, we evaluate the instruments which have been developed and validated for measuring frailty in surgical patients and summarize frailty tools used in 110 studies linking frailty status with adverse outcomes post-surgery. Frail older people are vulnerable to geriatric syndromes, and complications such as postoperative cognitive dysfunction and delirium are explored. This review also considers how frailty, with its decline of organ function, affects the metabolism of anesthetic agents and may influence the choice of anesthetic technique in an older person. Optimal perioperative care includes the identification of frailty, a multisystem and multidisciplinary evaluation preoperatively, and discussion of treatment goals and expectations. We conclude with an overview of the emerging evidence that Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment can improve postoperative outcomes and a discussion of the models of care that have been developed to improve preoperative assessment and enhance the postoperative recovery of older surgical patients.

Impact of age on postoperative outcomes in bariatric surgery

BACKGROUND

Age is often related to the increase of perioperative complications and reoperation rates. The authors aimed to determine the influence of age on outcomes of most commonly performed bariatric procedures.

METHODS

The retrospective study included patients qualified for primary Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) or Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (LRYGB) in two academic hospitals. Patients were divided into two groups: ≥50 (21.2-26.9%) and <50 (57.6-73.1%) years old. Endpoints assessed the influence of patients' age on the perioperative and the one-year postoperative period.

RESULTS

Operative time was longer in the ≥50-year-old group, but only for LRYGB. There were no differences in the intraoperative adverse events, postoperative morbidity, reoperation and readmission rates between the groups. The risk of port site hernia was increased (OR: 4.23, CI: 1.49-12.06) in the ≥50-year-old group. The mean % of total weight loss 12 months after the bariatric procedure was comparable, but % of excess weight loss and % of excess body mass index loss were lower in the ≥50-year-old group (p = .033 and .032).

CONCLUSIONS

Bariatric surgery is safe and feasible in patients over 50 years old. The weight loss effect can be worse among patients over 50 years old; nevertheless, the treatment should be considered as effective.

Predicting in-hospital mortality in older general surgical patients

Introduction A significant number of emergency general surgical admissions occur in older patients. Clinical decision making in this group is challenging and current risk prediction tools extrapolate data from cohorts of younger patients. This is the first UK study to examine risk factors predicting in-hospital mortality in older acute surgical patients undergoing comprehensive geriatric assessment. Methods This was a prospective study of consecutive patients aged ≥75 years admitted non-electively to general surgery wards between September 2014 and February 2017 who were reviewed by an elderly medicine in-reach service. Results A total of 577 patients were included with a mean age of 82.9 years. There was a female predominance (56%). The majority were living at home alone or with carers (93%) and most were independent in basic activities of daily living (79%). Over two-thirds (69%) were mobile with no walking aids or use of a walking stick and overt here-quarters (79%) had no cognitive impairment. Seventy-seven per cent of patients were managed non-operatively. The in-hospital mortality rate was 6.9%. Female sex (p=0.031), dependence in activities of daily living (p<0.001), cognitive impairment (p<0.001) and incontinence (p<0.001) were predictors of in-hospital mortality. ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) grade ≥3 was also associated with increased in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 5.3, 95% confidence interval: 2.6-10.7). Conclusions Older general surgical patients present a high level of complexity. This study highlights the predictive role of mobility, functional and cognitive impairment when assessing this population. Accurate risk stratification requires global assessment by teams experienced in care of the older patient rather than the traditional focus on co-morbidities.

Emergency surgery in octogenarians: Outcomes and factors affecting mortality in the general hospital setting

AIM

The Western world has an expanding older population, who are living longer with increasing numbers of comorbidities. In addition, expectations of patients and relatives are increasing. As a general hospital operating in a rural setting, our University Hospital Kerry, Tralee, Ireland, deals with a significant number of emergency presentations to the acute surgical service. The aim of the present study was to examine outcomes for patients in the extremes of age who present requiring emergency surgical procedures.

METHODS

A retrospective review of theater and admission logs was carried out to identify all emergency surgeries from January 2008 to December 2015. All patients aged >80 years at the time of surgery were identified. Details of surgery were recorded, in addition to biochemical and hematological data, use of intensive care unit, length of stay and mortality.

RESULTS

In total, 128 octogenarians underwent an emergency surgery. The average patient age was 84.3 years (range 80-94 years). The commonest procedures were laparotomy (65%, n = 84), repair of strangulated/incarcerated hernia (18%, n = 23) and laparoscopic procedures (16%, n = 21). The 30-day all-cause mortality was 22.6%. On multivariate analysis, American Society of Anesthesia status and intensive care unit utilization predicted mortality (P = 0.04 and 0.05, respectively). A total of 82 patients required intensive care unit admission, with an average length of stay of 4.8 days, using 484 bed days in total.

CONCLUSIONS

Emergency surgery in octogenarians is a significant part of the workload of general surgeons. Poor baseline status is associated with an increased risk of mortality. Emergency surgery in older adults only utilizes a fraction of available intensive care unit resources. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1211-1214.

Intensive care admission and hospital mortality in the elderly after non-cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether patient age is independently associated to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission after non-cardiac surgery.

DESIGN

An observational cohort study of the Spanish subset of the European Surgical Outcome Study (EuSOS) was carried out.

SETTING

Hospitals of the public National Health Care System and private hospitals in Spain.

INTERVENTION

None.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients over 16 years of age undergoing inpatient non-cardiac surgery in the participating hospitals during a 7-day period in the month of April 2011 were consecutively included.

MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST

ICU admission rate, factors associated with ICU admission and hospital mortality were assessed using logistic regression analysis and fractional polynomial regression.

RESULTS

Out of 5412 patients, 677 (12.5%) were admitted to the ICU after surgery. The adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) for ICU admission was 1.1 (0.8-1.4) for patients aged 65-74 years, 0.7 (0.5-1) for patients aged 75-85 years, and 0.4 (0.2-0.8) for patients over 85 years, respectively. Age, ASA score, grade of surgery (minor, intermediate, major), urgent surgery, surgical specialty, laparoscopic surgery and metastatic disease were independent factors for ICU admission. Global risk-adjusted mortality was 1.4 (95% CI 0.9-2.2). The ASA score, urgent surgery, surgical specialty and diabetes were predictors of hospital mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly patients (over 80 years) appear less likely to be admitted to ICU after non-cardiac surgery in Spanish hospitals. There was no significant association between age and postoperative mortality in this cohort.

Geriatricians and the older emergency general surgical patient: proactive assessment and patient centred interventions. Salford-POP-GS

Increasing numbers of older patients require Emergency admission under General Surgery (EGS). This is a group of heterogeneous and often complex individuals with varying degrees of multimorbidity, polypharmacy, functional, mobility and cognitive impairment. Our article describes the benefits of comprehensive assessment coupled with patient-centred multiprofessional interventions and timely discharge planning. We discuss diverse service models and describe our experience in the planning, development and consolidation of a perioperative service for older EGS patients.

Frailty and emergency surgery in the elderly: protocol of a prospective, multicenter study in Italy for evaluating perioperative outcome (The FRAILESEL Study)

Improvements in living conditions and progress in medical management have resulted in better quality of life and longer life expectancy. Therefore, the number of older people undergoing surgery is increasing. Frailty is often described as a syndrome in aged patients where there is augmented vulnerability due to progressive loss of functional reserves. Studies suggest that frailty predisposes elderly to worsening outcome after surgery. Since emergency surgery is associated with higher mortality rates, it is paramount to have an accurate stratification of surgical risk in such patients. The aim of our study is to characterize the clinicopathological findings, management, and short-term outcome of elderly patients undergoing emergency surgery. The secondary objectives are to evaluate the presence and influence of frailty and analyze the prognostic role of existing risk-scores. The final FRAILESEL protocol was approved by the Ethical Committee of "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy. The FRAILESEL study is a nationwide, Italian, multicenter, observational study conducted through a resident-led model. Patients over 65 years of age who require emergency surgical procedures will be included in this study. The primary outcome measures are 30-day postoperative mortality and morbidity rates. The Clavien-Dindo classification system is used to categorize complications. The secondary outcome measures include length of hospital stay, length of stay in intensive care unit, and predictive value for morbidity and mortality of several frailty and surgical risk-scores. The results of the FRAILESEL study will be disseminated through national and international conference presentations and peer-reviewed journals. The study is also registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02825082).