Systematic literature review and meta-analysis of postoperative complications of surgical management of vulvar cancer: what is the impact of frailty factors?

[INTRODUCTION] Vulvar cancer surgery is associated with high rates of morbidity. Preventing or minimizing these morbidities is an important objective, as they impact on patients' quality of life, and are highly deleterious in frail, aged patients, who represent the majority of those affected by this disease. This systematic literature review and meta-analysis assesses post-operative complications in vulvar cancer surgery, and attempts to identify the impact of frailty factors.

[METHOD] A Pubmed search was conducted to identify studies reporting data on complications of vulvar cancer surgery in frail patients, from January 2000 to April 2022, following the recommendations of the PRISMA, and registered in PROSPERO (CRD 42024503036). The evaluation criteria were: age, frailty, and complications. Statistical heterogeneity of results was assessed by graphical representations of confidence intervals (CI) on forest plot and by a Chi2 heterogeneity test.

[RESULT] Frailty related to age > 70 years increases the risk of inguinal disunion (OR = 1.89, 95%CI [1.12-3.20]). Frailty (due to age and obesity) does not increase the risk of lymphocele. Frailty factors, such as obesity, are risk factors for inguinal cellulitis (OR = 1.86, 95%CI [1.12-3.08]), and diabetes is a risk factor for inguinal infection.

[CONCLUSION] This literature review and meta-analysis precludes drawing any significant clinical conclusion regarding the impact of frailty, in particular age-related frailty, on the occurrence of complications. This is due to different definitions of complications, a lack of precision in the data provided, the variety of surgical techniques performed, the absence of an age group or a frailty group.