Geriatric Surgery and Palliative Care

This collection highlights emerging evidence and clinical perspectives in geriatric surgery and palliative care, with a focus on improving outcomes, quality of life, and decision-making for older adults undergoing operation. Articles explore postoperative recovery trajectories, the impact of new-onset geriatric syndromes, and the benefits of structured geriatric surgical programs, alongside studies on frailty, functional decline, discharge planning, and healthcare use. Scroll to the CME Articles section for opportunities to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ related to this collection.

New-Onset Geriatric Syndromes among Patients Undergoing Major Operation: Impact on Clinical Outcomes and Quality of Life

The development of geriatric syndromes after major surgery in older adults was an adverse independent, dose-dependent predictor of postoperative outcomes, fewer days spent at home and long-term mortality.

Impact of American College of Surgeons Geriatric Surgery Verification Program in Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Oncologic Operation at a Cancer Center

In older patients, institutionalization and loss of independence contribute to increased morbidity. We evaluated the Geriatric Surgery Verification program in oncology patients ≥65 y undergoing major abdominal operation. This study showed that GSV intervention reduced postoperative institutionalization and change in primary residence disposition.

Long-Term Postoperative Recovery Trajectories Among Older Individuals Undergoing Major Operation

Patients undergoing major operation demonstrated distinct patterns of postoperative recovery, with some experiencing a loss of independence. A risk prediction model was developed to help clinicians provide more informed guidance to patients and their families regarding future care needs.

Articles

A Tale of Two Hospitals: Receiving Surgical Care at a Hospital with a Geriatric Surgical Pathway Improves Postoperative Outcomes

Jabour, Sarah M; Owodunni, Oluwafemi P; Del Rosario, Solimar Santiago; et al

What’s the Rush? Challenging the Early Surgery Paradigm for Older Adults in Emergency General Surgery

Rice, William M; Shaw, Alexa P; Britt, Rebecca C; et al

Evaluating the Relationship Between Anemia, Transfusion, and Surgical Outcomes in Surgical Geriatric Cancer Patients: A National Study

Hendrick, Leah; Alhassan, Solomon; Yeoh, Cindy; et al

Extended Discharge Timeline for Older Adult Trauma Patients: An Increasing Threat to the Efficiency of Trauma Centers

Alchaer, Michael W; Fonseca, Ricardo A; Henriquez, Marco J; et al

Surgical Management of Gastric Cancer in Elderly Patients: Results of a Multicenter Cohort of the French Surgical Association

Manceau, Gilles; Lambert, Céline; Pereira, Bruno; et al

Discharge to Postacute Care as a Benchmarking Metric for Elderly Surgical Patients

Remer, Sarah L; Zhou, Lynn; Cohen, Mark E; et al

Perception of 30-Day Postoperative Function Compared with Quantified Performance: Factors Affecting Perceived Functional Decline in Patients Aged 80 Years and Older

Ma, Meixi; Peters, Xane; Remer, Sarah; et al

Prevalence of Preoperative Palliative Care Needs and Association with Healthcare Use and Cost among Older Adults Undergoing Major Elective Surgery

Wong, Jolene Si Min; Wang, Yihan; Bollens-Lund, Evan; et al

Identifying Diagnostic Gaps and Mitigation Strategies for Older Adult Emergency General Surgery Patients: A Scoping Review

Liu, Jessica K; Peters, Xane D; Remer, Sarah L; et al

New Surgical Frailty Scoring Tool: Modified 4-Factor Functional Frailty Index

Agathis, Alexandra Z; Wu, Jeanne; Divino, Celia M

Impact of Physiological Stress and Reserve on the Cost of Care: Operative Stress Score and Frailty

Fitzgerald, Timothy L; Nicolais, Laura; Quaye, Aurora; et al

Impact of Procedure Risk vs Frailty on Outcomes of Elderly Patients Undergoing Emergency General Surgery: Results of a National Analysis

Zakhary, Bishoy; Coimbra, Bruno C; Kwon, Junsik; et al

Frail Patients Undergoing Optimization Before Surgery: Preliminary Results

Hui, Lauren T; St Pierre, Diane; Miller, Richard S

Coronary Artery Calcification and Risk of Cardiac Complication in Geriatric Trauma Population

King, Sarah A; Jenkins, Jacob D; Livesay, James; et al

Outcomes of Palliative Hemipelvectomy in Comprehensive Cancer Center Patients with Metastatic Cancer: Retrospective Study

Rosen, Roni; Gulati, Amitabh; Bartsch, Christan; et al

What Do We Owe Our Patients? Surgeon Obligations When Patients Are Too Sick for Surgery

Lazenby, Kevin A; Angelos, Peter

CME Articles

March 2026

New-onset geriatric syndromes among patients undergoing major operation: impact on clinical outcomes and quality of life
Extended discharge timeline for older adult trauma patients: an increasing threat to the efficiency of trauma centers

January 2026

Surgical management of gastric cancer in elderly patients: results of a multicenter cohort of the French Surgical Association

December 2025

Perceptions of 30-day postoperative function compared to quantified performance: factors affecting perceived functional decline in patients aged 80 years and older.
Discharge to postacute care as a benchmarking metric for elderly surgical patients

Access JACS CME

Podcast Episode

Episode 41: Identifying Diagnostic Gaps and Mitigation Strategies for Older Adult Emergency General Surgery Patients: A Scoping Review

In this episode, Lillian Erdahl, MD, FACS, is joined by Jessica Liu, MD, MS, MPH, from the Department of Surgery, Harbor UCLA Medical Center. They discuss Dr Liu’s recent article, “Identifying Diagnostic Gaps and Mitigation Strategies for Older Adult Emergency General Surgery Patients: A Scoping Review,” in which the authors identified the current diagnostic issues, clinical tools, and clinician feedback strategies in the older adult emergency general surgery (EGS) setting. While challenges unique to older adults exist, variability in the use of tools to improve identification of older adult conditions in EGS and gaps in feedback to improve diagnosis remain.

Featured Video

Dr Rice discusses his recently published article in JACS, What’s the Rush? Challenging the Early Surgery Paradigm for Older Adults in Emergency General Surgery