Impact of frailty on postoperative outcomes after hepatectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Yao-Jia Lv; Guang-Xing Xu; Jia-Rong Lan

doi:10.4240/wjgs.v16.i7.2319

Impact of frailty on postoperative outcomes after hepatectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

World J Gastrointest Surg. 2024 Jul 27;16(7):2319-2328. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v16.i7.2319.

Authors

Yao-Jia Lv¹, Guang-Xing Xu², Jia-Rong Lan³

Affiliations

¹ Day Surgery Ward, Huzhou Central Hospital, The Affiliated Central Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou 313000, Zhejiang Province, China.
² School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang Province, China.
³ Department of Medicine, Huzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Huzhou 313000, Zhejiang Province, China. sdwaters@126.com.

Abstract

Background: The impact of frailty on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing hepatectomy is still unclear.

Aim: To study the influence of frailty on postoperative outcomes, such as mortality, rate of complications, and length of hospitalization, following hepatectomy.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases were searched for observational studies with adult (≥ 18 years) patients after planned/elective hepatectomy. A random-effects model was used for all analyses, and the results are expressed as weighted mean difference (WMD), relative risk (RR), or hazards ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results: Analysis of the 13 included studies showed a significant association of frailty with elevated risk of in-hospital mortality (RR = 2.76, 95%CI: 2.10-3.64), mortality at 30 d (RR = 4.60, 95%CI: 1.85-11.40), and mortality at 90 d (RR = 2.52, 95%CI: 1.70-3.75) in the postoperative period. Frail patients had a poorer long-term survival (HR = 2.89, 95%CI: 1.84-4.53) and higher incidence of "any" complications (RR = 1.69, 95%CI: 1.40-2.03) and major (grade III or higher on the Clavien-Dindo scale) complications (RR = 2.69, 95%CI: 1.85-3.92). Frailty was correlated with markedly lengthier hospital stay (WMD = 3.65, 95%CI: 1.45-5.85).

Conclusion: Frailty correlates with elevated risks of mortality, complications, and prolonged hospitalization, which need to be considered in surgical management. Further research is essential to formulate strategies for improved outcomes in this vulnerable cohort.

Keywords: Clinical outcomes; Complications; Frail adults; Frailty; Hepatectomy; Hepatic resection; Meta-analysis; Mortality; Survival.