A retrospective study of colonoscopic surveillance in the elderly.

Background: Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ) guidelines suggest surveillance colonoscopy should be carefully considered after age 75. The authors noted a cluster of patients presenting in their 8th and 9th decade of life with a new colorectal cancer (CRC) having previously been declined surveillance colonoscopy.

Methods: A 7-year retrospective analysis was performed of patients who underwent a colonoscopy aged between 71 and 75 years in the period between 2006 and 2012.

Delayed ileostomy closure increases the odds of Clostridium difficile infection.

Aim: A diverting ileostomy is typically performed to divert intestinal contents in high-risk colorectal anastomoses. Ileostomy closure is associated with high rates of postoperative Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Risk factors for the development of CDI are unclear; however, a correlation has been observed with delayed closure.

Pre-operative frailty is predictive of adverse post-operative outcomes in colorectal cancer patients.

Background: An increasing number of elderly patients are presenting for elective surgery. Pre-operative risk assessment in this population is inexact due to the complex interplay between age, comorbidity and functional status. Frailty assessment may provide a surrogate measure of a patient's physiological reserve and aid operative decision-making.

The association between low pre-operative step count and adverse post-operative outcomes in older patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.

Background: Multiple tools exist estimating perioperative risk. With an ageing surgical demographic, frailty is becoming an increasingly important concept in perioperative medicine due to its association with adverse post-operative outcomes. Reduced physical activity is a hallmark of frailty, and we postulate that a low pre-operative step count may be an objective measure of frailty.

Sarcopenia, as Assessed by Psoas Cross-Sectional Area, Is Predictive of Adverse Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Cancer Surgery.

Background: Frailty and sarcopenia are important concepts in surgical practice because of their association with adverse postoperative outcomes. Radiologically assessed psoas muscle mass has been proposed as a surrogate for sarcopenia and may be predictive of poor postoperative outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the association between sarcopenia, as assessed by psoas cross-sectional area, and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.

Prevalence of frailty in a tertiary hospital: A point prevalence observational study.

Introduction: Frailty is an important concept in modern healthcare due to its association with adverse outcomes. Its prevalence varies in the literature and there is a paucity of literature looking at the prevalence of frailty in an inpatient setting. Its significance lies on its impact on resource utilisation and costs.

Frailty in surgical patients.

Objective: To describe the current definitions, aetiology, assessment tools and clinical implications of frailty in modern surgical practice.

Background: Frailty is a critical issue in modern surgical practice due to its association with adverse health events and poor post-operative outcomes. The global population is rapidly ageing resulting in more older patients presenting for surgery.