title: Outcomes of a Geriatric Liaison Intervention to Prevent the Development of Postoperative Delirium in Frail Elderly Cancer Patients: Report on a Multicentre, Randomized, Controlled Trial.
abstract: Delirium is a serious and common postoperative complication, especially in frail elderly patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a geriatric liaison intervention in comparison with standard care on the incidence of postoperative delirium in frail elderly cancer patients treated with an elective surgical procedure for a solid tumour.
  
  
  
  Patients over 65 years of age who were undergoing elective surgery for a solid tumour were recruited to a multicentre, prospective, randomized, controlled trial. The patients were randomized to standard treatment versus a geriatric liaison intervention. The intervention consisted of a preoperative geriatric consultation, an individual treatment plan targeted at risk factors for delirium, daily visits by a geriatric nurse during the hospital stay and advice on managing any problems encountered. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative delirium. The secondary outcome measures were the severity of delirium, length of hospital stay, complications, mortality, care dependency, quality of life, return to an independent preoperative living situation and additional care at home.
  
  
  
  In total, the data of 260 patients were analysed. Delirium occurred in 31 patients (11.9%), and there was no significant difference between the incidence of delirium in the intervention group and the usual-care group (9.4% vs. 14.3%, OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.29-1.35).
  
  
  
  Within this study, a geriatric liaison intervention based on frailty for the prevention of postoperative delirium in frail elderly cancer patients undergoing elective surgery for a solid tumour has not proven to be effective.
  
  
  
  Nederlands Trial Register Trial ID NTR 823.
authors.affiliation: University Center for Geriatric Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands ; Geriatric Center, Medical Center Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hempenius
authors.forename: Joris P J
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Slaets
authors.forename: Dieneke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Asselt
authors.forename: Geertruida H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: de Bock
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wiggers
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome