RESUMO
Frailty, a condition that was first defined 20 years ago, is now assessed via multiple different tools. The Frailty Phenotype was initially used to identify a population of "pre-frail" and "frail" older adults, so as to prevent falls, loss of mobility, and hospitalizations. A different definition of frailty, via the Clinical Frailty Scale, is now actively used in critical care situations to evaluate over 65 year-old patients, whether it be for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions, limitation of life-sustaining treatments or prognostication. Confusion remains when mentioning "frailty" in older adults, as to which tools are used, and what the impact or the bias of using these tools might be. In addition, it is essential to clarify which tools are appropriate in medical emergencies. In this review, we clarify various concepts and differences between frailty, functional autonomy and comorbidities; then focus on the current use of frailty scales in critically ill older adults. Finally, we discuss the benefits and risks of using standardized scales to describe patients, and suggest ways to maintain a complex, three-dimensional, patient evaluation, despite time constraints. Frailty in the ICU is common, involving around 40% of patients over 75. The most commonly used scale is the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), a rapid substitute for Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA). Significant associations exist between the CFS-scale and both short and long-term mortality, as well as long-term outcomes, such as loss of functional ability and being discharged home. The CFS became a mainstream tool newly used for triage during the Covid-19 pandemic, in response to the pressure on healthcare systems. It was found to be significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. The improper use of scales may lead to hastened decision-making, especially when there are strains on healthcare resources or time-constraints. Being aware of theses biases is essential to facilitate older adults' access to equitable decision-making regarding critical care. The aim is to help counteract assessments which may be abridged by time and organisational constraints.
RESUMO
During the period 1989-1998, 27 patients with primary proximal bile duct cancer were treated (17 females and 10 males with a mean age of 61 years). The main presenting symptoms were: jaundice (96.2%), itching (92.5%), weight loss (74%) and atypical pain (33.3%). All the patients underwent ultrasound (US) examination, 7 patients endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and 4 patients computed tomography (CT) examination. US examination revealed the tumor in 51% cases; most frequently a dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts was diagnosed with all methods. 8 patients underwent resection of the tumor and one a biliary-enteric anastomosis, in 15 cases a stent was inserted. In 3 cases the extension of the malignancy did not allowed any procedure. Three patients died during immediate postoperative period (mortality 11.2%). The mean survival was 13 months after stenting and 22 months after resection of the tumor. The authors recommended an aggressive surgical therapy for Klatskin tumors.
