Labs and Groups

Aging Innovation in Perioperative Medicine and Surgery (AIMS)

Aging Innovation in Perioperative Medicine and Surgery (AIMS)

Publications

A selected set of publications from AIMS team members from 2016 to present.

2026

Functional Assessment for Surgery by a Timed Walk (FAST Walk) study: protocol for a multicentre prospective cohort study of the 6 min walk test for preoperative risk stratification in major non-cardiac surgery.

Wijeysundera DN, Salbach NM, Chan MTV, Alibhai SMH, Puts MTE, Jerath A, Khadaroo R, Ehtesham S, Pazmino-Canizares J, Ladha KS, Granton JT, Amado L, Duceppe E, Hladkowicz E, Lee SM, Macdonell SY, Parotto M, Perlas A, Serrano PE, Thorleifson MD, van Vlymen JM, van Waes J, Racz E, Wilmhurst L, McIsaac DI; FAST Walk Study Investigators. BMJ Open.

Home-Based Prehabilitation for Older Surgical Patients With Frailty: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

McIsaac DI, Lee S, Fergusson D, Gillis C, Khadaroo RG, Meliambro A, Muscedere J, Eskander A, Moloo H, Nelson G, Saha T, Chun R, Serrano PE, Wijeysundera DN, Taljaard M; PREPARE Trial Investigator Group; Barnes K, Boet S, Boland L, Branje K, Breau R, Bryson GL, Dhalla I, Dixon E, Dobson G, Farnand M, Forster A, Gagne S, Hladkowicz E, Holroyd-Leduc J, Huang A, Hutton J, Jacobsohn E, Joanisse J, Johnson A, Johnson S, Khalil N, Kidd G, Lalu M, Lavallée LT, Le T, Levine M, Love C, McCartney C, McMullen M, Bergamascki LM, Moore R, Mozel M, Nagpal S, Nantel J, Power B, Scheede-Bergdahl C, Tamblyn-Watts L, Thavorn K, Trottier D, van Walraven C, Yang I. JAMA Surg.

Recovery Experiences of Older Adults and Their Caregivers After Major Elective Noncardiac Surgery

Toledano N, Legacy N, Wijeysundera DN, Ku NW, Haase KR, Pitters E, Bennie F, Stephens A, Lorello GR, Kuluski K, McIsaac DI, Chesney TR, Xu K, Siddiqui N, Ladha KS, Mazer CD, Crampton N, McCluskey SA, Parotto M, Del Giudice L, Jerath A, van Vlymen J, MacDonell SY, Davis M, Gregory AJ, Jacobsohn E, MacDonald DB, McGilton KS, Hladkowicz E, Alibhai SMH, Puts M. JAMA Netw Open. 

Prehabilitation in preparation for surgery

McIsaac DI, Amado L, Kidd G, Wanczycki C, Boden I, Hladkowicz E, Gillis C. BMJ Med.

Life-Space Mobility Trajectories After Elective Surgery in Older Adults

Ku NW, Toledano N, Legacy N, Xu K, Wijeysundera DN, Haase KR, Pitters E, Bennie F, Stephens A, Lorello GR, Kuluski K, McIsaac DI, Chesney TR, Siddiqui N, Ladha KS, Mazer CD, Crampton N, McCluskey SA, Parotto M, Del Giudice L, Jerath A, van Vlymen J, MacDonell SY, Davis M, Gregory AJ, Jacobsohn E, McGilton KS, Hladkowicz E, Alibhai SMH, Puts M. JAMA Netw Open.

Cognitive prehabilitation in surgical patients: a scoping review

Amado LA, Crawford JA, Hladkowicz E, Al-Bayati M, Branje K, Huang S, Wong CL, Wijeysundera DN, McIsaac DI. Br J Anaesth.

Agreement between patient self-reported and assessor-rated frailty using the Clinical Frailty Scale

Alkadri J, Hladkowicz E, DesAutels K, Taljaard M, Amado L, Bryson GL, Golian M, Beaulé PE, Gagne S, Huang A, Joanisse JA, Lavallée LT, Thavorn K, McIsaac DI. Br J Anaesth.

Pooled Efficacy and Exploration of Effect Modifiers of Exercise Prehabilitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-regression Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Ramic L, Branje K, Al-Bayati M, Kidd GD, Neilipovitz N, Hutton B, Wolfe DM, Fergusson D, Fiore JF Jr, Gillis C, Hladkowicz E, McIsaac DI; Canadian Prehabilitation Knowledge Network Collaborators. Anesth Analg. 

  • Wijeysundera DN, Alibhai SMH, Puts MTE, Xu K, Daza JF, Diep C, Ladha KS, Chesney TR, Mazer CD, Wei AC, Ehtesham S, Hladkowicz E, Pazmino-Canizares J, Choi S, Davis M, Dillane D, Duceppe E, Jacobsohn E, Lorello GR, MacDonald DB, MacDonell SY, Parotto M, Serrano PE, van Vlymen JM, McIsaac DI; FIT After Surgery Investigators. (2025). Significant new disability after major non-cardiac surgery in older adults aged 65 years and older in Canada: a multicentre prospective cohort study. Lancet Healthy Longev. 6(11):100789.
  • Berrio-Valencia MI, Al-Bayati M, Baxi A, Branje K, Chitiva-Martinez I, Hladkowicz E, Kidd G, Hutton B, Wolfe DM, Lalu M, Boet S, Gillis C, McIsaac DI; Canadian Prehabilitation Knowledge Network. (2025). Adherence to prehabilitation in adult surgical patients: a systematic review, meta-analysis, meta-regression, and qualitative synthesis. Br J Anaesth. 135(3):582-593.
  • Hladkowicz E, Kidd G, Flexman A, Garland A, Hallet J, Kobewka D, McGarr M, Talarico R, van Walraven C, Wijeysundera DN, Wong CL, McIsaac DI; NOTIFY Investigator Group; Canadian Perioperative Anesthesia Clinical Trials Group. (2025). Description and validation of the Postoperative Discharge Recovery State outcome: a patient-partnered population-based cohort study. Br J Anaesth. 135(3):746-754.
  • Mbadjeu Hondjeu AR, Zhao ZY, Newton L, Ajenkar A, Hladkowicz E, Ladha K, Wijeysundera DN, McIsaac DI. (2025). Large language models in perioperative medicine-applications and future prospects: a narrative review. Can J Anaesth. 72(6):1000-1014.
  • Gu Y, McIsaac DI, Hladkowicz E, Barnes K, Boet S, McCartney C, Ramlogan R. (2025). Using the Theoretical Domains Framework to identify barriers and facilitators to peripheral nerve block use in older adult patients with a hip fracture: a national survey. Can J Anaesth. 72(3):460-472.
  • McIsaac DI, Tandon P, Kidd G, Branje K, Hladkowicz E, Hallet J, Wijeysundera DN, Lee S, McNeely ML, Taljaard M, Gillis C; STRIVE Trial Investigators; Canadian Perioperative Anesthesia Clinical Trials Group (PACT). (2024). STRIVE pilot trial: a protocol for a multicentre pragmatic internal pilot randomised controlled trial of Structured TRaining to Improve fitness in a Virtual Environment (STRIVE) before surgery. BMJ Open. 14(11):e093710.
  • McIsaac DI, Neilipovitz N, Bryson GL, Gagne S, Huang A, Lalu M, Lavallée LT, Moloo H, Power B, Scheede-Bergdahl C, van Walraven C, McCartney CJL, Taljaard M, Hladkowicz E. (2024). Home-based exercise prehabilitation to improve disease-free survival and return to intended oncologic treatment after cancer surgery in older adults with frailty: a secondary analysis of a randomized trial. Can J Anaesth. 71(11):1525-1534.
  • Agung Y, Hladkowicz E, Boland L, Moloo H, Lavallée LT, Lalu MM, McIsaac DI. (2024). Frailty and decisional regret after elective noncardiac surgery: a multicentre prospective cohort study. Br J Anaesth. 133(5):965-972.
  • Hladkowicz E, Auais M, Kidd G, McIsaac DI, Miller J. (2024). "It's a stressful, trying time for the caretaker": an interpretive description qualitative study of postoperative transitions in care for older adults with frailty from the perspectives of informal caregivers. BMC Geriatr. 24(1):246.
  • Hladkowicz E, Auais M, Kidd G, McIsaac DI, Miller J. (2023). "I can't imagine having to do it on your own": a qualitative study on postoperative transitions in care from the perspectives of older adults with frailty. BMC Geriatr. 23(1):848.
  • Shaw JF, Hladkowicz E, McCartney CJL, Bryson GL, McIsaac DI. (2023). A model to predict level of adherence to prehabilitation in older adults with frailty having cancer surgery. Can J Anaesth. 70(12):1950-1956.
  • Barnes K, Hladkowicz E, Dorrance K, Bryson GL, Forster AJ, Gagné S, Huang A, Lalu MM, Lavallée LT, Saunders C, Moloo H, Nantel J, Power B, Scheede-Bergdahl C, Taljaard M, van Walraven C, McCartney CJL, McIsaac DI. (2023). Barriers and facilitators to participation in exercise prehabilitation before cancer surgery for older adults with frailty: a qualitative study. BMC Geriatr. 23(1):356.
  • Engel JS, Tran J, Khalil N, Hladkowicz E, Lalu MM, Huang A, Wong CL, Hutton B, Dhesi JK, McIsaac DI. (2023). A systematic review of perioperative clinical practice guidelines for care of older adults living with frailty. Br J Anaesth. 130(3):262-271.
  • McIsaac DI, Hutton B, Veroniki A, Gill M, Boland L, Branje K, Grudzinski AL, Hladkowicz E, Shaw J, Gillis C; Prehabilitation Knowledge Network Authorship Group. (2022). Identifying relative efficacy of components of prehabilitation in adult surgical patients: protocol for a systematic review and component network meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 12(11):e068797.
  • Hladkowicz E, Dorrance K, Bryson GL, Forster A, Gagne S, Huang A, Lalu MM, Lavallée LT, Moloo H, Squires J, McIsaac DI. (2022). Identifying barriers and facilitators to routine preoperative frailty assessment: a qualitative interview study. Can J Anaesth. 69(11):1375-1389.
  • McIsaac DI, Fergusson DA, Khadaroo R, Meliambro A, Muscedere J, Gillis C, Hladkowicz E, Taljaard M; PREPARE Investigators. (2022). PREPARE trial: a protocol for a multicentre randomised trial of frailty-focused preoperative exercise to decrease postoperative complication rates and disability scores. BMJ Open. 12(8):e064165.
  • McIsaac DI, Hladkowicz E, Bryson GL, Forster AJ, Gagne S, Huang A, Lalu M, Lavallée LT, Moloo H, Nantel J, Power B, Scheede-Bergdahl C, van Walraven C, McCartney CJL, Taljaard M. (2022). Home-based prehabilitation with exercise to improve postoperative recovery for older adults with frailty having cancer surgery: the PREHAB randomised clinical trial. Br J Anaesth. 129(1):41-48.
  • Wijeysundera DN, Alibhai SMH, Ladha KS, Puts MTE, Chesney TR, Daza JF, Ehtesham S, Hladkowicz E, Lebovic G, Mazer CD, van Vlymen JM, Wei AC, McIsaac DI; FIT After Surgery Investigators. (2022). Functional Improvement Trajectories After Surgery (FIT After Surgery) study: protocol for a multicentre prospective cohort study to evaluate significant new disability after major surgery in older adults. BMJ Open. 12(6):e062524.
  • Abdellatif S, Hladkowicz E, Lalu MM, Boet S, Gagne S, McIsaac DI. (2022). Patient prioritization of routine and patient-reported postoperative outcome measures: a prospective, nested cross-sectional study. Can J Anaesth. 69(6):693-703.
  • Hladkowicz E, Dumitrascu F, Auais M, Beck A, Davis S, McIsaac DI, Miller J. (2022). Evaluations of postoperative transitions in care for older adults: a scoping review. BMC Geriatr. 22(1):329.
  • Haddad T, Mulpuru S, Salter I, Hladkowicz E, Des Autels K, Gagne S, Bryson GL, McCartney CJL, Huang A, Huang S, Forster A, van Walraven C, Kyeremanteng K, Fernando SM, Nagpal S, Moloo H, Boet S, Le Blanc V, Lalu MM, McIsaac DI. (2022). Development and evaluation of an evidence-based, theory-grounded online Clinical Frailty Scale tutorial. Age Ageing. 51(2):afab258.
  • Yachnin D, Hladkowicz E, McIsaac DI. (2021). A qualitative analysis of patient-reported anticipated benefits of having elective surgery. J Am Geriatr Soc. 69(9):2419-2429
  • Yachnin D, Hladkowicz E, McIsaac DI. (2021). A qualitative analysis of patient-reported anticipated benefits of having elective surgery. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia. TBD(TBD): TBD. Published (Epub ahead of print).
  • McIsaac DI, Aucoin SD, van Walraven C. (2020). A Bayesian Comparison of Frailty Instruments in Noncardiac Surgery: A Cohort Study. Anesthesia & Analgesia. TBD(TBD): TBD. Published (Epub ahead of print).
  • Hladkowicz E, Yachnin D, Boland L, Wilson K, McKinnon A, Hawrysh K, Hawrysh T, Bell C, Atkinson K, van Walraven C, Taljaard M, Thavorn K, Stacey D, Yang H, Pysyk C, Manual D, MacDonald D, Lavallee L, Gagne S, Forster A, Bryson GL, Moloo H, McIsaac DI. (2020). Evaluation of a preoperative personalized risk communication tool: a prospective before-and-after study. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia. TBD(TBD): TBD. Published (Epub ahead of print).
  • Roberts DJ, Nagpal SK, Kubelik D, Brandys T, Stelfox HT, Lalu M, Forster AJ, McCartney CJL, McIsaac DI. (2020). Association between neuraxial anaesthesia or general anaesthesia for lower limb revascularisation surgery in adults and clinical outcomes: population based comparative effectiveness study. BMJ. 2020(371):m4104.
  • McIsaac DI, Taljaard M, Bryson GL, Beaule PE, Gagne S, Hamilton G, Hladkowicz E, Huang A, Joanisse JA, Lavallee L, MacDonald D, Moloo H, Thavorn K, van Walraven C, Yang H, Forster AJ. (2020). Frailty and long-term postoperative disability trajectories: a prospective multicenter cohort study. British Journal of Anesthesia. 125(5): 704-711.
  • Johnson RL, McIsaac DI, Mantilla CB. (2020). Preoperative Frailty Assessment: Comment. Anesthesiology. 133(2): 468-470.
  • Aucoin SD, Hao M, Sohi R, Shaw J, Walker D, McIsaac DI. (2020). Accuracy and Feasibility of Clinically Applied Frailty Instruments before Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Anesthesiology. 133(1): 78-95.
  • Poulton A, Shaw J, Nguyen F, Tran A, Lampron J, Wong C, Lalu MM, McIsaac DI. (2020). The association of frailty with adverse outcomes after multisystem trauma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Anesthesia & Analgesia. 130(6): 1482-1492.
  • McIsaac DI. (2020). Real-world evaluation of enhanced recovery after surgery: big data under the microscope. British Journal of Anesthesia. 124(5): 510-512.
  • McIsaac DI, MacDonald DB, Aucoin SD. (2020). Frailty for perioperative clinicians: a narrative review. Anesthesia & Analgesia. 130(6): 1450-1460.
  • McIsaac DI, Taljaard M, Bryson GL, Beaulé PE, Gagne S, Hamilton G, Hladkowicz E, Huang A, Joanisse J, Lavallée LT, MacDonald D, Moloo H, Thavorn K, van Walraven C, Yang H, Forster AJ. (2020). Frailty as a predictor of death or new disability after surgery: a prospective cohort study. Annals of Surgery. 271(2): 283-289.
  • McIsaac DI, Harris EP, Hladkowicz E, Moloo H, Lalu MM, Bryson GL, Huang A, Joanisse J, Hamilton GM, Forster AJ, van Walraven C. (2019). Prospective Comparison of Preoperative Predictive Performance Between 3 Leading Frailty Instruments. Anesthesia & Analgesia. 131(1): 263-272.
  • Hamilton GH, Lalu MM, Ramlogan R, Bryson GL, Abdallah FW, McCartney CJL, McIsaac DI. (2019). A Population-based Comparative Effectiveness Study of Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Hip Fracture Surgery. Anesthesiology. 131: 1025-1035.
  • McIsaac DI, Saunders C, Hladkowicz E, Bryson GL, Forster AJ, Gagne S, Huang A, Lalu M, Lavallee, LT, Moloo H, Nantel J, Power B, Scheede-Bergdahl C, Taljaard M, van Walraven C, McCartney CJL. (2018). PREHAB Study: A protocol for a prospective randomized clinical trial of exercise therapy for people living with frailty having cancer surgery. BMJ Open. 8(6), e022057.
  • McIsaac DI, Taljaard M, Bryson GL, Beaule PE, Gagne S, Hamilton H, Hladkowicz E, Huang A, Jaonisse J, Lavalle LT, Moloo H, Thavorn K, van Walraven C, Yang H, Forster AJ. (2016). Comparative assessment of two frailty instruments for risk-stratification in elderly surgical patients: study protocol for a prospective cohort study. BMC Anesthesiology. 16(1): 111