Publications

Importance

As greater numbers of older patients seek elective surgery, one approach to preventing postoperative complications is enhanced assessment of risks during preoperative evaluation.

Objective

To determine whether a geriatric assessment tool can be implemented in a preoperative clinic and can estimate risk of postoperative complications.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this prospective cohort study, patients 70 years of age or older were assessed in a preoperative clinic for elective surgery from July 9, 2008, to January 5, 2011. Patients were screened using the Vulnerable Elders Surgical Pathways and Outcomes Assessment (VESPA) tool developed for this study. Patients were assessed on 5 preoperative activities of daily living recommended by the American College of Surgeons (bathing, transferring, dressing, shopping, and meals), history of falling or gait impairment, and depressive symptoms (2-item Patient Health Questionnaire). Patients also underwent a brief cognitive examination (Mini-Cog) and gait and balance assessment (Timed Up and Go test). A novel question was also asked as to whether patients expected they could manage themselves alone after discharge. Comorbidities and work-related relative value units (categorized into low, moderate, and high tertiles) were also collected. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to estimate risk of postoperative complications. Sustainability of VESPA over time was also evaluated. Medical record review was performed from December 11, 2012, to October 2, 2015, and data analysis was performed from November 15, 2015, to May 18, 2016.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Postoperative surgical and geriatric complications.

Results

Of the 770 patients evaluated, 736 (384 women and 352 men; mean [SD] age, 77.7 [5.7] years) underwent 740 operative procedures; of these patients, 711 had complete data for multivariable analysis. In our sample, 105 patients (14.3%) reported 1 or more difficulties with the 5 activities of daily living, and 270 of 707 patients (38.2%) foresaw themselves unable to manage self-care alone. A total of 131 of 740 patients had geriatric complications, and 114 of 740 patients had surgical complications; 187 of 740 patients (25.3%) had either geriatric or surgical complications. On multivariable analysis, the number of difficulties with activities of daily living (odds ratio [OR], 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-1.6), anticipated difficulty with postoperative self-care (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0-2.2), Charlson Comorbidity score of 2 or more vs less than 2 (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0-2.3), male sex (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.3), and work-related relative value units (moderate vs low: OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.3; high vs low: OR, 8.8; 95% CI, 5.3-14.5) were independently associated with postoperative complications (overall model area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.77). With these results, a whole-point VESPA score used alone to estimate risk of complications also demonstrated excellent fit (area under the curve, 0.76).

Conclusions and Relevance

Preoperative assessment of older geriatric patients is feasible in the general preoperative clinic and can help identify patients at higher risk of postoperative complications.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to establish high-quality, valid standards to improve surgical care of the older adult.

BACKGROUND

The aging population increases demand for high-quality surgical care. Building upon prior guidelines, quality indicators, and pilot projects, the Coalition for Quality in Geriatric Surgery (CQGS) includes 58 diverse stakeholder organizations committed to improving geriatric surgery.

METHODS

Using a modified RAND-UCLA Appropriateness Methodology, 44 of 58 CQGS Stakeholders twice rated validity (primary outcome) and feasibility for 308 standards, ranging from goals and decision-making, pre-operative assessment and optimization, perioperative and postoperative care, to transitions of care beyond the acute care hospital.

RESULTS

Three hundred six of 308 (99%) standards were rated as valid to improve quality of geriatric surgery. There were 4 sections. Section 1 included 157 (57%) standards and focused on goals and decision-making, preoperative optimization, and transitions into and out of the hospital. Section 2 included 84 (27.3%) standards focused on in-hospital care, across the immediate preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases. Section 3 included 59 (19.1%) standards about program management, including personnel and committee structure, credentialing, and education. Section 4 included 8 (2.6%) standards establishing overarching concepts for data collection and patient follow-up. Two hundred ninety of 308 standards (94.2%) were rated as feasible; 18 (5.8%) were rated as uncertain in feasibility.

CONCLUSIONS

CQGS Stakeholders rated the vast majority of standards of care as highly valid (99%) and feasible (94%) for improving the quality of surgical care provided to older adults. Future work will focus on a pilot phase to better understand and address challenges to implementation of the standards.