Integrating Geriatrics Principles into Surgical Care Setting: A “Surgery for Frails” Novel Model

Over the past five decades, advancements in healthcare have led to unprecedented increases in human lifespan, particularly notable in Italy. However, along with longer lifespans come increased challenges in managing chronic age-related conditions, polypharmacy, and disability. Surgical demands among older persons have surged, prompting discussions on determining surgical eligibility based not solely on chronological age but on factors such as frailty and physiological changes. Frailty, characterized by a decline in functioning across multiple physiological systems, emerges as a critical predictor of surgical outcomes, surpassing chronological age. The “Surgery for Frails” model emphasizes comprehensive preoperative assessments, interdisciplinary care protocols, and shared decision-making processes to optimize outcomes for older surgical patients. Implementation of standardized frailty assessments, such as handgrip strength measurement and comprehensive geriatric assessment, is crucial in identifying at-risk patients and tailoring interventions accordingly. Multidisciplinary collaboration and patient-centric approaches are paramount in navigating the complexities of geriatric surgery and ensuring favorable outcomes in an aging population. The model’s impact on mortality rates underscores the need for integrating geriatric principles into surgical care settings, highlighting the imperative of collective efforts to optimize surgical outcomes and reduce healthcare costs for older adults.