Frailty in major oncologic surgery of upper gastrointestinal tract: How to improve postoperative outcomes

Certain surgical interventions, especially those involving upper GI tract remain challenging, due to high morbidity and mortality rates. The study of frailty in the surgical population has allowed the identification of those patients with a higher risk of poor postoperative outcomes. There remains a lack of evidence regarding the possibility of improving these results through a preoperative holistic management of the patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether preoperative treatment, in carefully selected patients, can improve the outcome following surgery.

Between March 2015 and February 2016 patients affected by malignant tumors of the upper GI tract were enrolled at our Institution for major oncologic surgery. Amongst them, frail patients (Group 1) were identified using a validated scoring system and underwent a multidisciplinary preoperative management plan, composed of nutritional intervention, physical/respiratory enhancement and optimization of ongoing therapy. Short-term postoperative outcomes were then compared with a control group (Group 2) of patients with comparable frailty features and surgical indications, who had undergone surgery in the period from March 2013 to February 2014.

30-days and 3-months mortality, overall and severe complication rates were found to be significantly lower (p < 0.05) in Group 1 (41 patients) when compared with Group 2 (35 patents). No significant differences were recorded for the following outcomes: length of stay, referral to post-discharge institutionalisation and hospital re-admission.

This study confirms advantages provided by preoperative treatment in frail patients, suggesting a new pathway for the improvement of postoperative outcomes.