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Assessing pediatric frailty: Use of the surgical complication index for pediatric patients (SCIPP) score to predict

Sage A Vincent1, Lavanya Easwaran2, Suhong Tong3

  • 1Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Colorado, 13123 E 16th Ave B323, Aurora CO, 80045, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|July 8, 2026
PubMed

Insights

The pediatric frailty index, Surgical Complication Index for Pediatric Patients (SCIPP) score, effectively predicts complications and lengthier hospital stays after thoracic surgery. A reduced SCIPP score shows particular promise for preoperative risk assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Surgical Outcomes Research
  • Frailty Assessment

Background:

  • The Surgical Complication Index for Pediatric Patients (SCIPP) score is a validated frailty index in pediatric neurosurgery.
  • It assesses seven components: ADLs, autonomic function, BMI, continence, previous admissions, mobility, and polypharmacy.
  • A reduced SCIPP score uses ADLs, autonomic function, and polypharmacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the predictive performance of the full and reduced SCIPP scores in pediatric patients undergoing thoracic surgery.
  • To determine the association between SCIPP scores and postoperative complications and length of stay (LOS).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 317 pediatric patients (ages 2-18) who underwent thoracic surgery between 2020-2025.
  • Calculation of full and reduced SCIPP scores for all eligible patients.
  • Logistic regression analysis to assess the relationship between SCIPP scores and outcomes (complications, LOS).

Main Results:

  • Each 1-point increase in the full SCIPP score correlated with a 2.19-fold increase in complication risk (p<0.001).
  • Each 1-point increase in the reduced SCIPP score correlated with a 3.24-fold increase in complication risk (p<0.001).
  • Increased SCIPP scores were associated with significantly longer lengths of stay (LOS), with the reduced score showing a 44% increase per point.

Conclusions:

  • The SCIPP score, both full and reduced versions, is a valuable tool for predicting complications and LOS in pediatric thoracic surgery.
  • The reduced SCIPP score demonstrates significant predictive power and utility in preoperative settings.
  • Utilizing the SCIPP score can enhance preoperative counseling, risk stratification, and prehabilitation planning for pediatric surgical patients.
Abstract

Keywords:
ComplicationsFrailtyFrailty scoreLength of stayThoracic surgery

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