Preoperative Geriatric Medicine Evaluation in a Multidisciplinary Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Clinic and Outcomes in Geriatric Patients

Background: Chronological age is associated with adverse outcomes after abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR), yet many age-linked risks are modifiable. This study evaluated the benefit of integrating Geriatric Medicine (GM) into a multidisciplinary AWR clinic. Study Design: Using a prospectively maintained database, patients ≥65 years old underwent AWR after a preoperative GM consultation were propensity matched in a 1:1 fashion to (1) patients ≥65 years prior to GM integration (NGM) and (2) younger patients (0.050). Conclusions: Embedding GM into a multidisciplinary AWR clinic was associated with clinically meaningful reductions in LOS and complications compared to matched older adults without GM and outcomes equal to a matched cohort nearly 25 years younger. Preoperative GM consultation should be considered for complex AWR candidates.