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September 2, 2026Langenbeck s Archives of SurgeryOpen Access

The impact of nursing interventions on postoperative recovery in elderly patients undergoing surgical procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Key result

Nursing interventions cut postoperative complications ~62% versus standard care in elderly surgical patients.

  • RR 0.38
  • 95% CI 0.31-0.46
  • n=9,784

Why the study?

Various types of nursing interventions differ in their effectiveness, prompting an evaluation of their impact on postoperative recovery in elderly patients undergoing surgical procedures.

Do nursing interventions reduce postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing surgical procedures?

Comparison

Nursing interventions vs standard care

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors

YLYanfang LiXGXianghui GaoYGYaqi Gao

Discussion

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Member takes

Overview

May support integrating nursing interventions into elderly perioperative care; extends evidence base despite heterogeneity requiring standardized trials.

Key Points

  • To evaluate the impact of pharmacological and non-pharmacological nursing interventions on postoperative recovery and complications in elderly surgical patients.
  • Searched Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and MEDLINE through May 2026 for studies meeting PICO criteria.
  • Assessed methodological quality using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools with two independent reviewers.
  • Synthesized data from 64 studies (N=9,784 elderly surgical patients) using random-effects meta-analysis for dichotomous complication outcomes.
  • Nursing interventions significantly reduced the risk of postoperative complications compared with standard care (RR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.31–0.46).
  • Interventions comprised 5 pharmacological and 59 non-pharmacological strategies (categorized into 30 clinical groups), including early mobilization, ERAS protocols, and rehabilitation.
  • Substantial heterogeneity was observed across studies due to differences in intervention protocols, patient characteristics, and outcome measurement methods.

Study Design

Type

Meta-Analysis (n=9,784)

Structured PICO

Do nursing interventions reduce postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing surgical procedures?

P
Population
9,784 elderly patients undergoing surgical procedures included in 64 studies evaluating the impact of nursing interventions on postoperative recovery.
I
Intervention
Nursing interventions (including pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions such as early mobilization, ERAS-based care, nutritional and psychological support, patient education, rehabilitation strategies, discharge planning, continuity-of-care models, and pain management approaches)
C
Comparator
Standard care
O
Outcome
Postoperative complicationssafety

Main Result

Relative Risk: 0.38 (95% CI 0.31–0.46)

Nursing-led perioperative interventions significantly reduce the risk of postoperative complications in elderly surgical patients, though evidence is limited by heterogeneity.

Limitations

  • Substantial heterogeneity across studies
  • Variability in intervention design and outcome measurement
  • Methodological limitations across the included studies
  • Potential publication bias
  • Substantial heterogeneity
  • Methodological limitations across included studies

Cite This Study

Li et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Elderly patients undergoing surgical procedures (n=9,784). Nursing interventions vs. Standard care was evaluated on Postoperative complications (RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.31-0.46). Nursing interventions significantly reduced the risk of postoperative complications by approximately 62% compared with standard care in elderly surgical patients (RR 0.38).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a97e29ec562ede874ec6e1ehttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-026-04161-9
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Effectiveness of interventions delivered within inpatient perioperative care in adults undergoing surgery: scoping review of systematic reviews2025 · 2 citations
  2. 2Effects of nursing interventions on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing abdominal surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis2026 · 2 citations
  3. 3Investigating perioperative interventions to enhance surgical outcomes for older adults with cancer: A systematic review.2024 · 1 citations
  4. 4Perioperative interventions to enhance surgical outcomes for older adults with cancer: A systematic review.2024
  5. 5Elevating Surgical Recovery: A Comprehensive, Integrated, and Scholarly Approach to Fostering Nursing Excellence Through the Entire Perioperative Process2024