EP.FRI.175 Outcomes from the introduction of routine Geriatrician review for General Surgical patients over 65 years old undergoing Emergency Laparotomy at a large District General Hospital

Abstract

Abstract Aims The National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) results show that only 28.8% of all patients over 65years having emergency laparotomy had Geriatrician input. Advancing age predisposes to more complex medical needs due to a higher prevalence of co-morbidities, polypharmacy, cognitive impairment, and physiological frailty. Introduction of perioperative geriatrician input has been demonstrated to significantly reduce post-operatively mortality (national average 9.5%, rising to 20-40% in older age). We introduced a Geriatrician led liaison team with the initial aim to reduce 30-day mortality in older patients undergoing emergency laparotomy. Methods Prospective database was maintained of all eligible patients reviewed by the new service. Data on Rockwood Clinical Frailty Score (CFS), NELA risk prediction score, length of stay, mortality and complications were analysed. In this service development pilot we specifically assessed age and frailty demographics, expected mortality, and actual mortality in the cohort. Results All NELA patients 65 and over were reviewed by the service between September and December 2020, 35 in total. Median age 77 years; Median CFS 3 (range 2-6); Median NELA mortality risk 12% (range 0.9%-55.8%). Inpatient mortality was 2.9% and 30-day mortality 2.9% during this study period, compared to 18% in the previous year. Conclusion Our pilot study demonstrates that development of an embedded Geriatrician liaison service for patients undergoing emergency laparotomy is achievable in a district general hospital. Consistent with other larger scale studies we demonstrated significant mortality reduction in older adults undergoing emergency laparotomy with the new service offering enhanced inter-disciplinary Surgical, Critical Care and Geriatrician team-working.