Postoperative complications in geriatric patients in vascular surgery: A tertiary care center experience

Abstract

Introduction: The frequency of operations in geriatric population has been on a rise due to longevity and better medical care. Developing countries such as India have a significant proportion of geriatric patients who require various surgical interventions. There is limited data on various postoperative complications that are seen in geriatric vascular surgery patients. Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted in patients aged 65 and above who were operated under the department of vascular surgery, between 2013 and 2018. The patients' inpatient and outpatient records were analyzed to obtain the required data. Results: The study included 437 patients. The most common postoperative complication was surgery related (24.5%), followed by cardiac complications (13.5%). The overall mortality rate was 2% (n = 9). The 30-day readmission rate was 15.7%, of which peripheral arterial occlusive disease was seen in 92.7% of the patients. The patients who underwent endovascular procedures had fewer postoperative complications compared to those who underwent open procedures (14.3% vs. 23.3%). The incidence of intensive care unit transfers was 19.9%. The primary amputation rate was 21.5% and the secondary amputation rate was 21.6%, with a limb salvage rate of 78.4%. Conclusion: Postoperative complications are significant in geriatric patients. Recognizing the increasing and complex nature of geriatric patients, special measures must be taken to minimize the in-hospital complications.

Keywords

• endovascular procedures in the elderly
• mortality in the elderly after vascular surgical procedures
• outcomes in the elderly after vascular surgical procedures
• postoperative complications in the elderly
• vascular surgery in the elderly