Modified Frailty Index to Assess Risk in Elderly Patients Undergoing Distal Pancreatectomy: A Retrospective Single-Center Study

Background To compare the postoperative course of elderly patients (≥70 years) submitted to minimally invasive (MIDP) versus open distal pancreatectomy (ODP) and to evaluate if the modified Frailty Index (mFI) predicts the surgical course of elderly patients submitted to DP. Methods Data of patients aged ≥70 who underwent DP at a single institution between March 2011 and December 2019 were retrospectively retrieved. A 2:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was used to correct for differences in baseline characteristics. Then, postoperative complications were compared between the two groups (MIDP vs. ODP). Additionally, the entire cohort of DP elderly patients was stratified according to the mFI into three groups: non-frail (mFI = 0), mildly frail (mFI = 1/2), or severely frail (mFI = 3) and then compared. Results A total of 204 patients were analyzed. After PSM, 40 MIDP and 80 ODP patients were identified. The complications considered stratified homogenously between the two groups, with no statistically significant differences. The severity of the postoperative course increased as mFI did among the three groups regarding any complication (p = 0.022), abdominal collection (p = 0.014), pulmonary complication (p = 0.001), postoperative confusion (p = 0.047), Clavien-Dindo severity ≥3 events (p = 0.036), and length of stay (p = 0.018). Conclusions Elderly patients can be safely submitted to MIDP. The mFI identifies frail elderly patients more prone to develop surgical and non-surgical complications after DP.

The composite risk index based on frailty predicts postoperative complications in older patients recovering from elective digestive tract surgery: a retrospective cohort study

Background Limitations exist in available studies investigating effect of preoperative frailty on postoperative outcomes. This study was designed to analyze the association between composite risk index, an accumulation of preoperative frailty deficits, and the risk of postoperative complications in older patients recovering from elective digestive tract surgery. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study. Baseline and perioperative data of older patients (age ≥ 65 years) who underwent elective digestive tract surgery from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018 were collected. The severity of frailty was assessed with the composite risk index, a composite of frailty deficits including modified frailty index. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of postoperative complications during hospital stay. The association between the composite risk index and the risk of postoperative complications was assessed with a multivariable logistic regression model. Results A total of 923 patients were included. Of these, 27.8% (257) developed postoperative complications. Four frailty deficits, i.e., modified frailty index ≥0.27, malnutrition, hemoglobin < 90 g/L, and albumin ≤30 g/L, were combined to generate a composite risk index. Multivariable analysis showed that, when compared with patients with composite risk index of 0, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 2.408 (1.714–3.383, P < 0.001) for those with a composite risk index of 1, 3.235 (1.985–5.272, P < 0.001) for those with a composite risk index of 2, and 9.227 (3.568–23.86, P < 0.001) for those with composite risk index of 3 or above. The area under receiver-operator characteristic curve to predict postoperative complications was 0.653 (95% confidence interval 0.613–0.694, P < 0.001) for composite risk index compared with 0.622 (0.581–0.663, P < 0.001) for modified frailty index. Conclusion For older patients following elective digestive tract surgery, high preoperative composite risk index, a combination of frailty deficits, was independently associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications.

Validation of an Online Calculator to Predict Short-term Postoperative Outcomes in Patients with Metastatic Brain Tumors

Introduction: Estimating the risk of extended length of stay (LOS) or non-routine discharge disposition is helpful in surgical decision-making for patients with brain metastases (BM). In 2020, an online calculator was introduced by Khalafallah et al. that stratified the risk of patients with brain tumors based on poor surgical outcomes. We applied the calculator to our population of BM patients to determine its generalizability and validity. Methods: We included BM patients who underwent a cranial procedure between 2015 and 2018 at a single academic institution. Patient age, race, marital status, admission status, KPS score, and medical co-morbidities (5-point modified frailty index (mFI-5)) were included in the analysis. We calculated the areas under the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves to determine the validity of the model proposed in predicting extended LOS (>7 days) and need for specialty care at discharge (non-routine discharge disposition). Results: We analyzed 244 patients (mean age 61.2 years (SD 11.1), 57.0% female, and 78.1% Caucasian). The areas under the ROC curves were 0.8427 and 0.8422 for extended LOS and non-routine discharge disposition, suggesting high accuracy of the models for these outcomes. However, the (mFI-5) was not a significant predictor of either outcome in our multivariate analyses. Conclusions: We validated Khalafallah et al.’s predictive models of extended LOS and non-routine discharge disposition in our patient population, which included a broader range of surgical procedures. Further investigation of this model could clarify how the type of neurosurgical procedure influences outcomes, the role of the mFI-5, and its overall generalizability.

The type of gastrectomy and modified frailty index as useful predictive indicators for 1-year readmission due to nutritional difficulty in patients who undergo gastrectomy for gastric cancer

Background Patients who undergo gastrectomy for gastric cancer (GC) are likely to have nutritional difficulty after surgery. Readmission due to nutritional difficulty is common in such patients. Thus, in this study, we aim to identify the predictive indicators for readmission due to nutritional difficulty in patients who underwent gastrectomy for GC. Methods We retrospectively reviewed surgical outcomes in 516 consecutive patients who underwent gastrectomy for GC. Results The readmission rate within 1 year was 13.8%. Readmission due to nutritional difficulty was observed in 20 patients (3.9%); it was determined as the second leading cause of readmission. Multivariate analysis revealed that the type of gastrectomy and the modified frailty index (mFI) were independent predictive indicators of readmission due to nutritional difficulty. Patients were assigned 1 point for each predictive indicator, and the total points were calculated (point 0, point 1, or point 2). The readmission rates due to nutritional difficulty were 1.2%, 4.7%, and 11.5% in patients with 0, 1, and 2 points, respectively (P = 0.0008). Conclusions The readmission rate due to nutritional difficulty was noted to be high in patients who underwent total or proximal partial gastrectomy with high mFI. Intensive follow-up and nutritional support are needed to reduce readmissions due to nutritional difficulty. Reduced readmission rates can improve patient quality of life and reduce medical costs.

Visualizing Frailty: Exploring Radiographical Measures of Frailty in Trauma Patients

Purpose: This study assessed the relationship of core muscle sarcopenia, myosteatosis, and L1 attenuation to the 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5), discharge disposition, and post-admission complications in orthopedic and general trauma patients. It was hypothesized that reduced sarcopenia, L1 attenuation, and increased myosteatosis is associated with higher mFI-5 scores (≥ 0.3), discharge into care, and increased post-admission complications.Methods: This prospective cohort study was performed at a Level 1 trauma center. Patients were surveyed and metrics of the mFI-5 were used. Frail was categorized as a mFI-5 score ≥ 0.3. Recent abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans were used to extract radiographical information of total psoas cross-sectional area, psoas myosteatosis, and L1 vertebrae attenuation.Results: There were 140 patients who consented to the study, of which 83 had available abdomen and pelvis CT scans. The mean age was 43.19 (± 17.36), and 65% were male (n = 52). When comparing the frail (16%, n = 13) and not frail (84%, n = 70) patients, there was a significant difference in mean psoas myosteatosis (p < 0.0001) and the attenuation of the L1 vertebrae (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis when accounting for age, myosteatosis of the psoas muscles was predictive of an mFI-5 score ≥ 0.3.Conclusion: The findings suggest that myosteatosis and L1 attenuation are associated with frailty indices (mFI-5) after traumatic injury. Future studies are needed to prospectively assess the validity of both radiographical and index-based markers of frailty in predicting post-traumatic complications, mortality, and hospital utilization.

P.221 Frailty is an Important Predictor of 30-day Morbidity in Patients Treated for Lumbar Spondylolisthesis Using a Posterior Surgical Approach

Background: A non-operative approach has been favoured for elderly patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis due to a perceived higher risk with surgery. However, most studies have used an arbitrary age cut-off to define “elderly.” We hypothesized that frailty is an independent predictor of morbidity after surgery for lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database for years 2010 to 2018 was used. Patients who received posterior lumbar spine decompression with or without posterior fusion instrumented fusion for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis were included. The primary outcome was major complication. Secondary outcomes were readmission, reoperation, and discharge to location other than home. Logistic regression analysis was done to investigate the association between outcomes and frailty. Results: There were 15 658 patients in this study. The mean age was 62.5 years (SD 12.2). Frailty, as measured by the Modified Frailty Index-5 was significantly associated with increased risk of major complication, unplanned readmission, reoperation, and non-home discharge. Increasing frailty was associated with increasing risk of morbidity. Conclusions: Frailty is independently associated with higher risk of morbidity after posterior surgery in patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis. These data are of significance to clinicians in planning treatment for these patients.