Study to evaluate the short term outcomes of Comprehensive geriatric assessment in elderly patients undergoing surgical treatment of head and neck cancer

Geriatric patients have a decreased physiological reserve to withstand aggressive surgical treatment. Frailty is a state of vulnerability to poor homeostasis post a stressor event such as chemotherapy or surgery. Handforth et al in their systematic review calculated the prevalence of frail and pre frail patients to be in the range of 40 – 45%. Identification of frailty in geriatric oncology patients helps in predicting their response to treatment, ability to tolerate major ablative procedures, recovery post treatment and even overall survival.

Elderly patients with good performance status have good outcomes to curative head and neck cancer patients, however they have longer hospital stays, tube dependence and non-fatal cardiac event. The rationale for the study is to identify at risk/ frail patients of head and neck cancer, predict and mitigate their complications and provide successful curative surgical intervention and post operative outcomes.