Surgery In Older People Research Articles

Effects of anterior approach to quadratus lumborum block on postoperative cognitive function following hip surgery in older people: a randomized controlled clinical trial

BackgroundPeripheral nerve block, including the quadratus lumborum block (QLB), has been used for postoperative analgesia in hip surgery. However, the effects of QLB on cognitive function after hip surgery remain unknown. This study aimed to assess the effects of the anterior approach to QLB on postoperative cognitive function in older people undergoing hip surgery.MethodsSixty older people who underwent hip surgery from May 2021 to May 2022 were randomly divided into the QLB (n = 30) and control groups (n = 30). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score (mean ± SD) was measured one day preoperatively and seven and 30 days postoperatively. The frequency (%) of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) was examined seven and 30 days postoperatively. The visual analog scale (VAS) scores at rest and Bruggrmann comfort scale (BCS) scores [Median (IQR)] 6 h (t1), 12 h (t2), 24 h (t3), and 48 h (t4) after surgery were assessed. The plasma high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) and levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (mean ± SD) were evaluated 1 h preoperatively (baseline) and 24 h postoperatively (day 1). The requirement for rescue analgesia [Median (IQR)], time to first off-bed activity (mean ± SD), and adverse effects after surgery were also recorded.ResultsCompared with the control group, the frequency of POCD was significantly lower in the QLB group seven days postoperatively (10.7% vs. 34.5%, P = 0.033), but no difference at 30 days postoperatively (3.6% vs. 10.3%, P = 0.319). There was no significant difference in MoCA scores between the two groups at one day preoperatively and 30 days postoperatively. However, the MoCA scores at seven days postoperatively were higher in the QLB group than in the control group (27.4 ± 1.81 vs. 26.4 ± 1.83, P = 0.043). In the QLB group, the VAS scores at t1, t2, and t3 were lower [3(2–4) vs. 4(3–4), P = 0.028; 3(2–3) vs. 4(3–5), P = 0.009; 2(1–3) vs. 2(2–3), P = 0.025], and the BCS scores at t1, t2, and t3 were higher than those in the control group [3(1–3) vs. 1(1–2), P = 0.006; 3(2–3) vs. 2(1–3), P = 0.011; 3(2–4) vs. 2(2–3), P = 0.041]. The patients in the QLB group reported significantly fewer requirements for rescue analgesia [0(0–1) vs. 1(0–2), P = 0.014]. The plasma levels of HMGB1 and IL-6 at 24 h postoperatively in the QLB group were significantly lower than in the control group (749.0 ± 185.7 vs. 842.1 ± 157.9, P = 0.046; 24.8 ± 8.1 vs. 31.9 ± 5.5, P < 0.001). The time to first off-bed activity from the end of surgery was shorter in the QLB group (25.3 ± 5.3 vs. 29.7 ± 6.9, P = 0.009). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups.ConclusionsAnterior QLB given to older people undergoing hip surgery could promote early postoperative cognitive function recovery, provide adequate postoperative analgesia, and inhibit the release of inflammatory factors.Trial registrationChictr.org.cn identifier ChiCTR2000040724 (Date of registry: 08/12/2020, prospectively registered).

Surgical trends and regional variation in Danish patients diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis between 2002 and 2018: a retrospective registry-based study of 83,783 patients

BackgroundLumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is the most common reason for spine surgery in older people. However, surgery rates vary widely both internationally and nationally. This study compared patient and sociodemographic characteristics, geographical location and comorbidity between surgically and non-surgically treated Danish patients diagnosed with LSS from 2002 to 2018 and described variations over time.MethodsDiagnostic ICD-10 codes identifying patients with LSS and surgical procedure codes for decompression with or without fusion were retrieved from the Danish National Patient Register. Patients ≥ 18 years who had been admitted to private or public hospitals in Denmark between 2002 and 2018 were included. Data on age, sex, income, retirement status, geographical region and comorbidity were extracted. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to calculate the relative risk for surgically versus non-surgically treated LSS patients using the total population and subsequently divided into three time periods. Variations over time were displayed graphically.ResultsA total of 83,783 unique patients with an LSS diagnosis were identified, and of these, 38,362 (46%) underwent decompression surgery. Compared to those who did not receive surgery, the surgically treated patients were more likely to be aged 65–74 years, were less likely to have comorbidities, had higher income and were more likely to reside in the northern part of Denmark. Patients aged 65–74 years remained more likely to receive surgery over time, although the difference between age groups eventually diminished, as older patients (aged ≥ 75) were increasingly more likely to undergo surgery. Large variations and differences in the relative risk of surgery were observed within and between the geographical regions. The likelihood of receiving surgery varied up to threefold between regions.ConclusionDanish patients with LSS who receive surgery differ in a number of respects from those not receiving surgery. Patients aged 65 to 74 years were more likely to receive surgery than other age groups, and LSS surgical patients were healthier, more often retired and had higher incomes than those not undergoing surgery. There were considerable variations in the relative risk of surgery between and within geographical regions.

A machine learning-based prediction model pre-operatively for functional recovery after 1-year of hip fracture surgery in older people.

Machine learning (ML) has been widely utilized for constructing high-performance prediction models. This study aimed to develop a preoperative machine learning-based prediction model to identify functional recovery one year after hip fracture surgery. We collected data from 176 elderly hip fracture patients admitted to the Department of Orthopaedics and Oncology at Shenzhen Second People's Hospital between May 2019 and December 2019, who met the inclusion criteria. Patient's functional recovery was monitored for one year after surgery. We selected 26 factors, comprising 12 preoperative indicators, 8 surgical indicators, and 6 postoperative indicators. Eventually, 77 patients were included based on the exclusion criteria. Random allocation divided them into the training set (70%) and test set (30%) for internal validation. The Lasso method was employed to screen prognostic variables. We conducted comparisons among various common machine learning classifiers to determine the best prediction model. Prediction performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. To identify the importance of the predictor variables, we performed the recursive feature elimination (RFE) algorithm based on Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) values. The AUCs for the testing dataset were as follows: logistic regression (Logit) model = 0.934, k-nearest neighbors (KNN) model = 0.930, support vector machine (SVM) model = 0.910, Gaussian naive Bayes (GNB) model = 0.926, decision tree (DT) model = 0.730, random forest (RF) model = 0.957, and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) model = 0.902. Among the seven ML-based models tested, the RF model demonstrated the best prediction performance, incorporating four features: postoperative rehabilitation compliance, marital status, age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity score (aCCI), and clinical frailty scale (CFS). We developed a prediction model for the functional recovery following hip fracture surgery in elderly patients after one year, based on the Random Forest (RF) algorithm. This model exhibited superior prediction performance (ROC) compared to other models. The software application is available for use. External validation in a larger patient cohort or diverse hospital settings is necessary to assess the clinical utility of this tool.

The effect of an exercise-based rehabilitation programme in functional recovery and prevention of secondary falls after a hip fracture in older adults: A systematic review.

We performed a systematic review to evaluate whether an exercise-based intervention programme, for older people with a hip fracture, is effective in functional recovery and in preventing secondary fall-related injuries. This systematic review was conducted according to Cochrane review guidelines and based on the PRISMA statement. Six electronic databases (Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Library, CIHNAL, Embase, Google Scholar) from 2010 to 31 December 2021 were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of functional recovery or fall prevention exercises after a hip fracture surgery in older people (≥65 years). Thirty-four references were identified initially, however, only 8 studies (1617 patients) met the eligibility criteria. Despite the heterogeneity of the onset, duration and of the characteristics of exercise-based intervention, as well as the type of setting it was delivered in, there was evidence that an exercise-based rehabilitation programme improved physical function and gait ability. There was no evidence about preventing a secondary fall after a hip fracture. In conclusion, an exercise-based intervention programme can generally improve functional recovery after a hip fracture. It remains uncertain if it affects the prevention of a secondary fall over a 1-year follow-up period.

CANOPTIPHYS study protocol: Optimising PHYSical function before CANcer surgery: effects of pre-operative optimisation on complications and physical function after gastrointestinal cancer surgery in older people at risk—a multicentre, randomised, parallel-group study

BackgroundThis multicentre study explores the effects of pre-operative exercise on physical fitness, post-operative complications, recovery, and health-related quality of life in older individuals with low pre-operative physical capacity scheduled to undergo surgery for colorectal cancer. We hypothesise that this group of patients benefit from pre-operative exercise in terms of improved pre-operative physical function and lower rates of post-operative complications after surgery compared to usual care. Standardised cancer pathways in Sweden dictate a timeframe of 14–28 days from suspicion of cancer to surgery for colorectal cancer. Therefore, an exercise programme aimed to enhance physical function in the limited timeframe requires a high-intensity and high-frequency approach.MethodsParticipants will be included from four sites in Stockholm, Sweden. A total of 160 participants will be randomly assigned to intervention or control conditions. Simple randomisation (permuted block randomisation) is applied with a 1:1 allocation ratio. The intervention group will perform home-based exercises (inspiratory muscle training, aerobic exercises, and strength exercises) supervised by a physiotherapist (PT) for a minimum of 6 sessions in the pre-operative period, complemented with unsupervised exercise sessions in between PT visits. The control group will receive usual care with the addition of advice on health-enhancing physical activity. The physical activity behaviour in both groups will be monitored using an activity monitor. The primary outcomes are (1) change in physical performance (6-min walking distance) in the pre-operative period and (2) post-operative complications 30 days after surgery (based on Clavien-Dindo surgical score).DiscussionIf patients achieve functional benefits by exercise in the short period before surgery, this supports the implementation of exercise training as a clinical routine. If such benefits translate into lower complication rates and better post-operative recovery or health-related quality of life is not known but would further strengthen the case for pre-operative optimisation in colorectal cancer.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04878185. Registered on 7 May 2021. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/home

Anticholinergic Drug Exposure Increases the Risk of Delirium in Older Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery.

IntroductionPostoperative delirium (POD) is a common and serious adverse event of surgery in older people. Because of its great impact on patients' safety and quality of life, identification of modifiable risk factors could be useful. Although preoperative medication intake is assumed to be an important modifiable risk factor, the impact of anticholinergic drugs on the occurrence of POD seems underestimated in elective surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between preoperative anticholinergic burden and POD. We hypothesized that a high preoperative anticholinergic burden is an independent, potentially modifiable predisposing and precipitating factor of POD in older people.MethodsBetween November 2017 and April 2019, 1,470 patients of 70 years and older undergoing elective orthopedic, general, cardiac, or vascular surgery were recruited in the randomized, prospective, multicenter PAWEL trial. Anticholinergic burden of a sub-cohort of 899 patients, who did not receive a multimodal intervention for preventing POD, was assessed by two different tools at hospital admission: The established Anticholinergic Risk Scale (ARS) and the recently developed Anticholinergic Burden Score (ABS). POD was detected by confusion assessment method (CAM) and a validated post discharge medical record review. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between anticholinergic burden and POD.ResultsPOD was observed in 210 of 899 patients (23.4%). Both ARS and ABS were independently associated with POD. The association persisted after adjustment for relevant confounding factors such as age, sex, comorbidities, preoperative cognitive and physical status, number of prescribed drugs, surgery time, type of surgery and anesthesia, usage of heart-lung-machine, and treatment in intensive care unit. If a patient was taking one of the 56 drugs listed in the ABS, risk for POD was 2.7-fold higher (OR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.55–4.94) and 1.5-fold higher per additional point on the ARS (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.15–2.02).ConclusionPreoperative anticholinergic drug exposure measured by ARS or ABS was independently associated with POD in older patients undergoing elective surgery. Therefore, identification, discontinuation or substitution of anticholinergic medication prior to surgery may be a promising approach to reduce the risk of POD in older patients.

Risk Factors for Postoperative Pneumonia in the Elderly Following Hip Fracture Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Pneumonia is a serious complication following hip fracture surgery in older people. However, the prevalence and risk factors of postoperative pneumonia (POP) are not well-established. This study identified pre- and peri-operative factors associated with the development of POP following hip fracture surgery.Methods: We searched the Cochrane library, PubMed, and Embase databases for relevant articles published up to June 2021. Studies involving older patients who underwent hip fracture surgery were considered if they detailed the demographic or surgical characteristics of the participants. For all analyses, the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated.Results: A total of 24 studies (288819 participants) were included. The overall prevalence of POP following hip fracture surgery was 5.0%. There were 36 risk factors for POP, and the meta-analysis included the five most common: delayed surgery (OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.29-2.63), low serum albumin (OR: 2.34, 95% CI: .82-6.73), chronic respiratory diseases (OR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.82-3.24), increased age (OR: 1.25, 95% CI:1.11-1.40), and male sex (OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 2.00-2.47).Conclusions: The prevalence of POP was 5.0% following hip fracture surgery in the elderly. Older age, male sex, chronic respiratory diseases, delayed surgery, and low serum albumin were significant risk factors. Clinicians treating hip fracture patients must remain be aware of these risk factors.

Pre-operative prognostic factors for walking capacity after surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis: a systematic review

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) reduces walking and quality of life. It is the main indication for spinal surgery in older people yet 40% report walking disability post-operatively. Identifying the prognostic factors of post-operative walking capacity could aid clinical decision-making, guide rehabilitation and optimise health outcomes. To synthesise the evidence for pre-operative mutable and immutable prognostic factors for post-operative walking in adults with LSS. Systematic review with narrative synthesis. Electronic databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, OpenGrey) were searched for observational studies, evaluating factors associated with walking after surgery in adults receiving surgery for LSS from database inception to January 2020. Two reviewers independently evaluated studies for eligibility, extracted data and assessed risk of bias (Quality in Prognosis Studies). The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation method was used to determine level of evidence for each factor. 5526 studies were screened for eligibility. Thirty-four studies (20 cohorts, 9,973 participants, 26 high, 2 moderate, 6 low risk of bias) were included. Forty variables (12 mutable) were identified. There was moderate quality of evidence that pre-operative walking capacity was positively associated with post-operative walking capacity. The presence of spondylolisthesis and the severity of stenosis were not associated with post-operative walking capacity. All other factors investigated had low/very low level of evidence. Greater pre-operative walking is associated with greater post-operative walking capacity but not spondylolisthesis or severity of stenosis. Few studies have investigated mutable prognostic factors that could be potentially targeted to optimise surgical outcomes.

Mortality of older patients with dementia after surgery for chronic subdural hematoma: a nationwide study.

dementia is associated with an excess risk of death but mortality after chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) evacuation in older people with dementia is unknown. We assessed the association between dementia and 1-year case-fatality in older persons undergoing CSDH evacuation. we conducted a nationwide Finnish cohort study including all older persons (≥60years) undergoing CSDH evacuation during 1997-2014 (referred to as cases). We identified controls, without a diagnosis of CSDH, that were matched for age, sex and year of first hospitalisation with a new dementia diagnosis. We identified cases and controls with a pre-existing diagnosis of dementia. Outcome was 12-month mortality. Mortality was compared in case-only and case-control analyses. of 7,621 included cases, 885 (12%) had a pre-existing diagnosis of dementia. The proportion of cases increased from 9.7% in 1997-2002 to 12.2% in 2012-2014 (P = 0.038 for trend). In the case-analysis, dementia independently associated with 1-year case-fatality (dementia vs. no dementia odds ratio [OR] 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-1.78). Sensitivity analysis suggested the association to be strongest for those 60-69years old (OR 3.21, 95% CI 1.59-6.47). In the case-control matched analysis, 1-year mortality was 26% in the dementia CSDH surgery group compared to 16% in the dementia non-CSDH controls (P < 0.001). dementia is a significant risk factor for 1-year mortality after CSDH surgery in older people. The proportion of older CSDH patients having a pre-existing diagnosis of dementia is increasing. Thus, there is a need for improved evidence regarding the indications and benefits of CSDH evacuation among older persons.

NeuroVISION Study: the hazards of elective surgery in older people

NeuroVISION Study: the hazards of elective surgery in older people

Effect of pressure on pericardium 6 in nausea after cataract surgery in the elderly:A randomized clinical trial

Introdution: Cataract is a common surgery in older people. Nausea is an unpleasant feeling after general anesthesia that may cause serious effects on such patients. This article aimed to study the effect of pressure pericardium 6 on nausea after cataract surgery in elderly patients in the Khalili Hospital, Shiraz, Iran, in 1395. Methods: This randomized double-blind clinical trial was done on 50 elderly patients in the intervention group and 50 in the control group. An hour before the surgery, the patients closed a 30-band wristband containing a push-button at the point (P6), and in the control group, the same wristband was closed without a button. Five hours after the induction of general anesthesia, the wristband was removed from both groups and nausea level of the patients were recorded immediately after their recovery at 8 and 12 hours after the surgery. After 5 weeks, the data were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 16 and independent T-test (P-value &lt; 0.05) . Results: The results showed the meaningful difference in average severity and frequency of nausea 8 hours after cataract surgery in two groups (p&lt;0.01). But the severity of nausea immediately and 12 hours after cataract surgery was not significantly different in both groups (p&gt;0.159). Conclusion: The finding showed that acupressure is effective in reducing the severity of nausea after cataract surgery. Due to low cost, low complication and simplicity of acupressure, it can be recommended as a way of caring by nurses and other medical staff in reducing nausea.

Proactive care of older people undergoing surgery

The number of older patients undergoing surgery is increasing due to changing demographics, surgical and anaesthetic advances and shifts in patient expectations of healthcare. The benefits of surgery in older people are well documented and include symptom control and increased life expectancy. However, older surgical patients present not only with the index pathology requiring surgery but with concurrent age related physiological decline, multimorbidity and geriatric syndromes. These additional issues increase the risk of adverse postoperative outcome, in particular of postoperative medical and functional complications. In recent years, there has been recognition of the need for collaborative surgical and geriatric medicine working to address the health care needs of the increasingly complex older surgical population. Guidelines have been published to support clinicians looking after older surgical patients, however, there has been little published on the establishment of such services. In this paper, we describe the evolution of the proactive care of older patients undergoing surgery (POPS) service and how through the use of comprehensive geriatric assessment methodology and intervention throughout the surgical pathway, outcomes for complex older surgical patients can be improved.

Factors predicting incidence of post-operative delirium in older people following hip fracture surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Delirium is one of the most common complications following hip fracture surgery in older people. This study identified pre- and peri-operative factors associated with the development of post-operative delirium following hip fracture surgery. Published and unpublished literature were searched to identify all evidence reporting variables on patient characteristics, on-admission, intra-operative and post-operative management assessing incident delirium in older people following hip fracture surgery. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and mean difference of those who experienced delirium compared to those who did not were calculated for each variable. Evidence was assessed using the Downs and Black appraisal tool and interpreted using the GRADE approach. A total of 6704 people (2090 people with post-operative delirium) from 32 studies were analysed. There was moderate evidence of nearly a two-times greater probability of post-operative delirium for those aged 80 years and over (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.87), whether patients lived in a care institution pre-admission (OR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.79, 3.92), and a six-times greater probability of developing post-operative delirium with a pre-admission diagnosis of dementia (OR: 6.07, 95% CI: 4.84, 7.62). There was no association with intra-operative variables and probability of delirium. Clinicians treating people with a hip fracture should be vigilant towards post-operative delirium if their patients are older, have pre-existing cognitive impairment and poorer overall general health. This is also the case for those who experience post-operative complications such as pneumonia or a urinary tract infection. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

KL-15: Surgery in older people – the present and future role of the geriatrician: Orthopaedic surgery

KL-15: Surgery in older people – the present and future role of the geriatrician: Orthopaedic surgery

KL-14: Surgery in older people – the present and future role of the geriatrician. Cancer surgery

KL-14: Surgery in older people – the present and future role of the geriatrician. Cancer surgery

Laparoscopic versus open surgery for colorectal cancer in the older person: A systematic review.

BackgroundLaparoscopic surgery is being increasingly offered to the older person.ObjectiveTo systematically review the literature regarding laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery in older people and compare to younger adult populations.Study selectionWe included randomized controlled trials that compared open to laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery. Older people were defined as being 65 years and above.Outcome measuresOverall survival and post-operative morbidity and mortality. Secondary endpoints were length of hospital stay, wound recurrence, disease-free survival and conversion rate.ResultsSeven trials included older people, average age of approximately 70 years. Two reported data specific to older patients (over 70 years): The ALCCaS study reported reduced length of stay and short-term complication rates in the laparoscopic group when compared to open surgery (8 versus 10 days, and 36.7% versus 50.6% respectively) and the CLASICC study reported equivalent 5 year survival between arms and a reduction of 2 days length of stay following laparoscopic surgery in older people. In trials which considered data on older and younger participants all five trials reported comparable overall survival and showed comparable or reduced complication rates; two demonstrated significantly shorter length of stay following laparoscopic surgery compared to open surgery.ConclusionLarge numbers of older people have been included in well-conducted, multi-centre, randomized controlled trials for laparoscopic and open colorectal cancer surgery. This systematic review suggests that age itself should not be a factor when considering the best surgical option for older patients.

Bariatric surgery in obese older people

Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether older (≥65 years) obese people would benefit from bariatric surgery, considering the prevalence of multiple comorbidities and frailty in this group. Methods A PubMed search was carried out for studies on the use of bariatric surgery in older obese people published in the database from 1980 to the present (August 2014). Results A total of 244 citations were obtained on searching; 182 of these publications were selected for manual checking and 10 studies were identified as containing useable data on this patient cohort. Published data were available for efficacy in 641 patients. Substantial improvement was observed in diabetes (76%), hypertension (68%) and sleep apnoea (67%) following bariatric surgery. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (n=456) was the most frequently reported procedure. Similar findings but with greater weight loss and fewer complications were found in the small numbers of patients undergoing other procedures. Data from four large registry studies (n=6837) showed mortality and complications associated with bariatric surgery to be increased in older compared with younger people especially in those undergoing gastric bypass surgery. The elderly had longer hospital stays, and patients with cardiac, pulmonary or renal comorbidities generally had a worse prognosis. Conclusion Bariatric surgery in older people is effective in reducing complications of obesity, but is also associated with increased rates of complications compared with those seen in younger patients. The few reported studies in the elderly are retrospective, generally small, primarily describe findings of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding as the surgical intervention option and lack long-term follow-up. More trials and registry data, especially for sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass, are required to better address the utility of bariatric surgery in the elderly and to define long-term clinical outcomes.

Frailty predicts need for medical review but not degree of organ support after complex orthopaedic surgery

Based on expert opinion and case note review, the UK National Confidential Enquiry into Peri-operative Outcome has recommended provision of perioperative level 2 and 3 care to support major surgery in older people, and particularly those with comorbidity [1]. We wished to identify whether we could predict if the need was uniform and whether any factors could predict the degree of organ supports needed.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness Predicts Mortality and Hospital Length of Stay After Major Elective Surgery in Older People

This study aimed to define the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and age in the context of postsurgery mortality and morbidity in older people. Postsurgery mortality and morbidity increase with age. Cardiorespiratory fitness also declines with age, and the independent and linked associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and age on postsurgical mortality and morbidity remain to be determined. An unselected consecutive group of 389 adults with a mean age of 66 years (range 26-86 years) underwent cardiorespiratory exercise testing before major hepatobiliary surgery at a single center. Mortality and critical care unit and hospital lengths of stay were collected from patient records. Primary outcomes were in-hospital all-cause mortality after surgery and hospital and critical care lengths of stay. Anaerobic threshold was the most significant independent predictor for postoperative mortality (P = 0.003; β = -0.657 and odds ratio = 0.52) in 18 of 389 (4.6%) patients who died during their in-hospital stay. Age was not a significant predictor in this model. Older people with normal cardiorespiratory fitness spent the same number of days in the hospital or critical care unit as younger people with similar cardiorespiratory fitness (13 vs 12; P = 0.08 and 1 vs 1; P = 0.103). Patients older than 75 years with low cardiorespiratory fitness spent a median of 11 days longer in hospital (23 vs 12; P < 0.0001) and 2 days longer in critical care (2.9 vs 0.9; P < 0.0001) when compared with patients with adequate cardiorespiratory fitness. Cardiorespiratory fitness is an independent predictor of mortality and length of hospital stay and provides significantly more accurate prognostic information than age alone. Clinicians should consider both the prognostic value of cardiorespiratory testing and techniques to preserve cardiorespiratory function before elective surgery in older people.

Analysis of Neuron-Specific Enolase and S100B as Biomarkers of Cognitive Decline Following Surgery in Older People

Background/Aims: Post-operative cognitive decline is frequent in older individuals following major surgery; however, biomarkers of this decline are less clearly defined. Methods: Sixty-eight participants over the age of 60 provided blood samples at baseline and 24 h post-surgery. Cognitive decline was measured at baseline and 52 weeks post-surgery using the Cambridge Assessment for Mental Disorder in the Elderly, section B (CAMCOG) score. Plasma levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100B were measured by ELISA. Results: Baseline NSE and the change in NSE levels between baseline and 24 h were correlated with the change in CAMCOG score between baseline and 52 weeks. Conclusion: NSE concentrations may be a useful predictor of individuals at risk of more severe long-term cognitive decline.