Handle with Care: Frailty and Perianesthetic Management

In this issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, a narrative review article offers a comprehensive discussion of patient frailty in the context of perisurgical care. McIsaac et al1 emphasize the importance of frailty assessment as it implicates higher morbidity and mortality. The review concludes with potential methods to improve outcomes within 4 broad spheres of frailty: cognition, mental health, nutrition, and physical performance. This infographic summarizes these approaches and the reader is encouraged to review the corresponding article for a full, in-depth understanding.

ACS indicates American College of Surgeons; AGS, American Geriatrics Society; CFS, Clinical Frailty Scale; CNST, Canadian Nutrition Screening Tool; DASI, Duke Activity Status Index; EFS, Edmonton Frail Scale; FI, frailty index; FP, fried phenotype; HELP, Hospital Elder Life Program; IDA, iron deficiency anemia; PHQ-2, Personal Health Questionnaire.