For Seniors, Complex Surgery Often Doesn't End Well

A study by the American College of Surgeons' Coalition for Quality in Geriatric Surgery found as older adults submit to more operations, their outcomes are often worse than for younger persons, reports the Philadelphia Tribune . A study reviewing major, nonemergency surgery in 165,600 adults older than 65 found death and complications rose with age, as did length of hospitalization. Another study determined people in their 80s undergoing major surgery for lung, esophageal, and pancreatic cancer have significantly higher mortality rates than those 65 to 69, and are more likely to go to nursing communities afterward. Older people often have chronic health problems and take multiple drugs, while the hospital also can place them at risk of getting infections or losing mobility after days in bed. To address these challenges, the American College of Surgeons has crafted a new geriatric surgery verification program that sets 30 standards that hospitals should comply with to improve outcomes for older adults. Certain standards apply to staffing or physical modifications like "geriatric-friendly" rooms, while others cover medication management, with reduced opioid dependence.