R Griffiths, F Beech, A Brown, J Dhesi, I Foo, J Goodall, W Harrop-Griffiths, J Jameson, N Love, K Pappenheim, S White
Increasing numbers of elderly patients are undergoing an increasing variety of surgical procedures. There is an age-related decline in physiological reserve, which may be compounded by illness, cognitive decline, frailty and polypharmacy. Compared with younger surgical patients, the elderly are at relatively higher risk of mortality and morbidity after elective and (especially) emergency surgery. Multidisciplinary care improves outcomes for elderly surgical patients. Protocol-driven integrated pathways guide care effectively, but must be individualised to suit each patient...
January 2014: Anaesthesia