Post-Operative All-Cause Mortality in Elderly Patients Undergoing Abdominal Emergency Surgery: Role of Charlson Comorbidity Index

Emergency laparotomy in older adults with geriatric medicine input implications of demographics, frailty and comorbidities on outcomes

BACKGROUND

We (1) describe West Australian (WA) older adults undergoing emergency laparotomy (EL) in a tertiary-centre Acute Surgical Unit (ASU) with proactive geriatrician input and (2) explore the impact of Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and Charlson's Comorbidity Index (CCI) on patient outcomes.

METHODS

We performed a prospective cohort-study of older adults undergoing EL, between April 2021 and April 2022, in a tertiary ASU, with dedicated geriatrician-led perioperative care via the Older Adult Surgical Inpatient Service (OASIS).

RESULTS

Of 114 patients, average age was 76.7 ± 7.61 years-old (range 65-96), with 35.1% (n = 40) frail (CFS 5-7), 18.4% (n = 21) vulnerable (CFS 4) and 46.5% (n = 74) not frail (CFS 1-3). 61.4% (n = 70) were severely comorbid (CCI ≥5), 34.2% (n = 39) moderately comorbid (CCI 3-4), and 4.4% (n = 5) mildly comorbid (CCI 1-2). 95.9% (n = 109) EL patients were reviewed by OASIS. Inpatient mortality was 7.9% (n = 9) and 1-year mortality 16.7% (n = 19). Majority, 64.9% (n = 74), were discharged directly home with 17.5% (n = 20) discharged with in-home rehabilitation. Each increment in CCI was associated with increased in-hospital (HR 1.38, p = 0.034) and 1-year (HR 1.39, p = 0.006) mortality, and each increment in CFS with 1-year mortality (HR 1.62, p = 0.016). Higher CFS but not CCI was associated with increased level of care at discharge. Age was not statistically significant with any outcomes.

CONCLUSION

We describe demographics, frailty and comorbidity of 114 older adults undergoing EL in ASU. We suggest CFS and CCI as independent risk-stratification tools, and proactive management of both comorbidity, and frailty, should be incorporated into preoperative optimisation.

Increasing Rates of Bowel Resection Surgery for Stricturing Crohn's Disease in the Biologic Era

BACKGROUND

The era of biologics is associated with declining rates of surgery for Crohn's disease (CD), but the impact on surgery for stricturing CD is unknown. Our study aimed to assess nationwide trends in bowel resection surgery for obstruction in CD since the introduction of infliximab for CD in 1998.

METHODS

Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we performed a nationwide analysis, identifying patients hospitalized for CD who underwent bowel resection for an indication of obstruction between 1998 and 2020 (era of biologics). Longitudinal trends in all CD-related resections and resection for obstruction were evaluated. Multivariable logistic regression identified patient and hospital characteristics associated with bowel resection surgery for obstruction.

RESULTS

Hospitalizations for all CD-related resections decreased from 12.0% of all hospitalizations in 1998 to 6.9% in 2020, while hospitalizations for CD-related resection for obstructive indication increased from 1.3% to 2.0%. The proportion of resections for obstructive indication amongst all CD-related bowel resections increased from 10.8% in 1998 to 29.1% in 2020. In the multivariable models stratified by elective admission, the increasing year was associated with risk of resection for obstructive indication regardless of urgency (nonelective model: odds ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.02; elective model: odds ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.04-1.08).

CONCLUSIONS

In the era of biologics, our findings demonstrate a decreasing annual rate of CD-related bowel resections but an increase in resection for obstructive indication. Our findings highlight the effect of medical therapy on surgical rates overall but suggest limited impact of current medical therapy on need of resection for stricturing disease.

The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) as an Independent Prognostic Factor for Patients ≥80 Years with Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO)

BACKGROUND

SBO is a potentially life-threatening condition that often affects older patients. Frailty, more than age, is expected to play a crucial role in predicting SBO prognosis in this population. This study aims to define the influence of Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) on mortality and major complications in patients ≥80 years with diagnosis of SBO at the emergency department (ED).

METHODS

All patients aged ≥80 years admitted to our ED for SBO from January 2015 to September 2020 were enrolled. Frailty was assessed through the CFS, and then analyzed both as a continuous and a dichotomous variable. The endpoints were in-hospital mortality and major complications.

RESULTS

A total of 424 patients were enrolled. Higher mortality (20.8% vs 8.6%, p<0.001), longer hospital stay (9 [range 5-14] days vs 7 [range 4-12] days, p=0.014), and higher rate of major complications (29.9% vs 17.9%, p=0.004) were associated with CFS ≥7. CFS score and bloodstream infection were the only independent prognostic factors for mortality (OR 1.72 [CI: 1.29-2.29], p<0.001; OR 4.69 [CI: 1.74-12.6], p=0.002, respectively). Furthermore, CFS score, male sex and surgery were predictive factors for major complications (OR 1.41 [CI: 1.13-1.75], p=0.002; OR 1.67 [CI: 1.03-2.71], p=0.038); OR 1.91 [CI: 1.17-3.12], p=0.01; respectively). At multivariate analysis, for every 1-point increase in CFS score, the odds of mortality and the odds of major complications increased 1.72-fold and 1.41-fold, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The increase in CFS is directly associated with an increased risk of mortality and major complications. The presence of severe frailty could effectively predict an increased risk of in-hospital death regardless of the treatment administered. The employment of CFS in elderly patients could help the identification of the need for closer monitoring and proper goals of care.

Frailty assessment as independent prognostic factor for patients ≥65 years undergoing urgent cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis

BACKGROUND

To evaluate, in a prospective observational cohort study of adults ≥65 years old, the frailty status at the emergency department (ED) admission for the in-hospital death risk stratification of patients needing urgent cholecystectomy.

METHODS

Clinical variables and frailty status assessed in the ED were evaluated for the association with major complications and the need for open surgery. The parameters evaluated were frailty, comorbidities, physiological parameters, surgical approach, and laboratory values at admission. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for poor outcomes.

RESULTS

The study enrolled 358 patients aged ≥65 years [median age 74 years]; 190 males (53.1%)]. Overall, 259 patients (72.4%) were classified as non-frail, and 99 (27.6%) as frail. The covariate-adjusted analysis revealed that frailty (P< 0.001), and open surgery (P = 0.015) were independent predictors of major complications. Frailty, peritonitis, constipation at ED admission, and Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥ 4 were associated with higher odds of open surgical approach (2.06 [1.23 - 3.45], 2.49 [1.13 - 5.48], 11.59 [2.26 - 59.55], 2.45 [1.49 - 4.02]; respectively).

DISCUSSION

In patients aged ≥65 years undergoing urgent cholecystectomy, the evaluation of functional status in the ED could predict the risk of open surgical approach and major complications. Frail patients have an increased risk both for major complications and need for "open" surgical approach.

Perioperative Factors Impact on Mortality and Survival Rate of Geriatric Patients Undergoing Surgery in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Cohort Study in Indonesia

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an impact on geriatric patients worldwide since geriatrics itself is an age group with a high risk due to declined physiological function and many comorbidities, especially for those who undergo surgery. In this study, we determine the association between perioperative factors with 30-day mortality and a survival rate of geriatric patients undergoing surgery during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at 14 central hospitals in Indonesia. The recorded variables were perioperative factors, 30-day mortality, and survival rate. Analyses of associations between variables and 30-day mortality were performed using univariate/multivariable logistic regression, and survival rates were determined with Kaplan−Meier survival analysis. Results: We analyzed 1621 elderly patients. The total number of patients who survived within 30 days of observation was 4.3%. Several perioperative factors were associated with 30-day mortality (p < 0.05) is COVID-19 (OR, 4.34; 95% CI, 1.04−18.07; p = 0.04), CCI > 3 ( odds ratio [OR], 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03−5.26; p = 0.04), emergency surgery (OR, 3.70; 95% CI, 1.96−7.00; p ≤ 0.01), postoperative ICU care (OR, 2.70; 95% CI, 1.32−5.53; p = 0.01), and adverse events (AEs) in the ICU (OR, 3.43; 95% CI, 1.32−8.96; p = 0.01). Aligned with these findings, COVID-19, CCI > 3, and comorbidities have a log-rank p < 0.05. The six comorbidities that have log-rank p < 0.05 are moderate-to-severe renal disease (log-rank p ≤ 0.01), cerebrovascular disease (log-rank p ≤ 0.01), diabetes with chronic complications (log-rank p = 0.03), metastatic solid tumor (log-rank p = 0.02), dementia (log-rank p ≤ 0.01), and rheumatology disease (log-rank p = 0.03). Conclusions: Having at least one of these conditions, such as COVID-19, comorbidities, emergency surgery, postoperative ICU care, or an AE in the ICU were associated with increased mortality in geriatric patients undergoing surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Implementation and improvement of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols for colorectal cancer surgery

Purpose

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) reduces postoperative complications and shortens hospital stays. We aimed to describe the implementation and improvement of ERAS protocols in our institution through a multidisciplinary team approach.

Methods

A multidisciplinary team comprised of colorectal surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, and a performance improvement team was launched to develop the ERAS protocol. The ERAS protocol was followed in patients who underwent colonic and rectal surgery between January and November 2017. The ERAS protocol comprised 22 elements in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases. After the initial application, ERAS compliance was monitored and audited every 4–6 months and improvements made as necessary.

Results

The length of hospital stay significantly decreased after the application of the ERAS protocols for colon cancer in 2017 and 2018. And there was no significant difference in the duration of hospital stay after applying the rectal cancer ERAS protocol. Moreover, after starting the colon ERAS, there was a significant decrease in the complication rate. Since December 2017, there was a continuous increase in the colorectal ERAS clinical pathway application rate, which remained high (>90%). The patient compliance rate significantly increased between 2017 and 2018, but slightly decreased again in 2019.

Conclusion

The application and continual improvement of an ERAS protocol are crucial. Improving compliance may result in better clinical outcomes. Additionally, the basic guidelines of ERAS must be applied and developed according to each hospital’s situation based on the team approach.