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  • Title: Failure to Rescue After Emergency General Surgery in Geriatric Patients: Does Frailty Matter?
    Author: Khan M, Jehan F, Zeeshan M, Kulvatunyou N, Fain MJ, Saljuqi AT, O'Keeffe T, Joseph B.
    Journal: J Surg Res; 2019 Jan; 233():397-402. PubMed ID: 30502276.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Failure to rescue (FTR) is considered as an index of quality of care provided by a hospital. However, the role of frailty in FTR remains unclear. We hypothesized that the FTR rate is higher for frail geriatric emergency general surgery (EGS) patients than nonfrail geriatric EGS patients. METHODS: We performed a 3-y (2015-2017) prospective cohort study of all geriatric patients (age ≥ 65 y) requiring EGS. Frailty was calculated by using the EGS-specific Frailty Index (EGSFI) within 24 h of admission. Patients were divided into two groups: frail (FI ≥ 0.325) and nonfrail (FI < 0.325). We defined FTR as death from a major complication. Regression analysis was performed to control for demographics, type of operative intervention, admission vitals, and admission laboratory values. RESULTS: Three hundred twenty-six geriatric EGS patients were included, of which 38.9% were frail. Frail patients were more likely to be white (P < 0.01) and, on admission, had a higher American Association of Anesthesiologist class (P = 0.03) and lower serum albumin (P < 0.01). However, there was no difference between the groups regarding age (P = 0.54), gender (P = 0.56), admission vitals, and WBC count (P = 0.35). Overall, 26.7% (n = 85) of patients developed in-hospital complications; and mortality occurred in 30% (n = 26) of those patients (i.e., the FTR group). Frail patients had higher rates of FTR (14% vs. 4%, P < 0.001) than nonfrail patients. On regression analysis, after controlling for confounders, frail status was an independent predictor of FTR (OR: 3.4 [2.3-4.6]) in geriatric EGS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that in geriatric EGS patients, a frail status independently contributes to FTR and increases the odds of FTR threefold compared with nonfrail status. Thus, it should be included in quality metrics for geriatric EGS patients.
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