Postoperative Complications in Patients with Frailty Syndrome Undergoing Esophagectomy—A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Frailty is a powerful predictor of mortality in patients undergoing esophagectomy, with frail individuals facing nearly four times higher odds of death. This underscores the urgent need to integrate frailty assessments into standard preoperative screening to enhance risk stratification and optimize perioperative decision-making. A multidisciplinary approach is essential to improving resilience, recovery, and long-term survival in frail esophageal cancer patients. Future large-scale prospective trials should focus on standardizing assessment tools and evaluating the lasting impact of tailored interventions to ultimately enhance patient outcomes.