Skip to main content
RACS ASC 2025
Times are shown in your local time zone GMT
Quality-of-Life in Emergency General Surgical Admissions with Integrated Geriatric Care
Verbal Presentation
Edit Your Submission
Edit

Verbal Presentation

1:30 pm

04 May 2025

Meeting Room C4.5

RESEARCH PAPERS

Disciplines

General Surgery

Talk Description

Institution: John Hunter Hospital - NSW, Australia

Purpose: Increasing numbers of comorbid and frail patients are requiring emergency general surgical care in Australia. While evidence supporting integrated geriatric-care exists in other surgical specialties, recent gaps remain in the context of emergency general surgery and patient outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a Surgical Geriatric Service (SGS) on patient quality-of-life outcomes through a controlled before-and-after study. Methodology: A controlled before-and-after study was conducted over a 12-month period. Patients who met the pre-determined geriatric inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study and received proactive consultation from a Geriatrician during the 6-month intervention phase. Participants completed two quality-of-life questionnaires (EQ-5D-5L and WHO-DAS) at discharge, 3-6 and 12-18 months post-discharge. Additionally, a patient satisfaction survey (AHPEQS) was completed. Results: Control and intervention groups included approximately 400 participants respectively. At 3-months post discharge, EQ-5D-5L demonstrated improvement in various quality-of-life domains in the SGS intervention group. Improvements were noted in mobility scores, self-care, pain and activities of daily living. AHPEQs demonstrated that patient satisfaction was comparable between groups. WHO-DAS analysis and completion of the 12-18 month time point is still underway. Conclusion: Current data demonstrates that introduction of the SGS improved key quality-of-life outcomes for geriatric patients undergoing emergency general surgical admission. Further insights are anticipated with completion of the 12-month time-point and analysis of the WHO-DAS questionnaire.
Presenters
Authors
Authors

Dr Henry Logan - , Dr Ashleigh Phillips - , Prof Elizabeth Holliday - , Prof Jonathan Gani - , Dr Clarissa Sagi - , A/Prof Christine O'Neill -