Preoperative frailty predicts postoperative outcomes in intestinal-cutaneous fistula repair

The outcomes of operative repair of intestinal-cutaneous fistulas vary widely throughout the literature. We aimed to investigate whether the modified frailty index-5 is a reliable tool to account for physiologic reserve and whether it serves as a predictor of Clavien-Dindo grade IV complications in those with intestinal-cutaneous fistulas undergoing operative repair.

We queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2006 to 2017 database to include patients who underwent intestinal-cutaneous fistulas repair. The outcome of interest was 30-day Clavien-Dindo grade IV complications. The incidence of 30-day post-operative Clavien-Dindo grade IV complications were evaluated based on calculated modified frailty index-5 score. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association of Clavien-Dindo grade IV complications and modified frailty index-5.

A total of 3,995 patients were identified who underwent an intestinal-cutaneous fistulas repair. The median age (interquartile range) was 57 years (46, 67), and most patients were female (2,143 [53.7%]), White (3,206 [80.3%]), and 1,512 (38.2%) were obese. After adjusting for relevant covariates such as demographics, comorbidities, and operative details, modified frailty index-5 was independently associated with Clavien-Dindo grade IV complications (odds ratio = 2.81, 95% confidence interval 1.64-4.82; P < .001).

Modified frailty index-5 is an independent predictor of Clavien-Dindo grade IV complications following intestinal-cutaneous fistulas repair. It can be used to account for physiologic reserve, thus reducing the variability of outcomes reported for intestinal-cutaneous fistulas repair.