The Five-item Frailty Index (5i-FI) is a tool utilized by physicians to predict surgical risk and postoperative complications after a procedure. Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, checked out whether the 5i-FI might be used to predict surgical complications in endoscopic surgery for benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). Patients who received either transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) between 2009 and 2019, photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP), or laser enucleation of the prostate (LEP) were assessed for frailty using the 5i-FI. The frailty scores were then compared against any complications experienced, major complications, length of stay within the hospital, and 30-day postoperative readmission. The team found that a 5i-FI rating greater than two is predictive of those instances.

“The 5-item Frailty Index is a straightforward tool that predicts postoperative complications after endoscopic surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia,” said first creator Muhieddine Labban, MD, of the Division of Urology and the Center for Surgery and Public Health.

After weighting for patients’ frailty scores and demographics, LEP and PVP were related to lower odds of complications and shorter hospital stays. Nevertheless, each LEP and PVP are less more likely to be used amongst men with higher frailty scores. Preoperative frailty assessment using the 5i-FI could improve risk stratification.”

Quoc‐Dien Trinh, MD, Senior Creator, Brigham’s Division of Urology and Center for Surgery and Public Health

Source:

Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Journal reference:

Labban, M., et al. (2022) Does the 5-item Frailty Index predict surgical complications of endoscopic surgical management for benign prostatic obstruction? An evaluation of the ACS-NSQIP. World Journal of Urology. doi.org/10.1007/s00345-022-04151-8.