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Updated: May 15, 2026

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers
Published on: January 13, 2018
[Anesthesia in the elderly].
Anthony Mézière1, Elena Paillaud, Benoît Plaud
1Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, groupe hospitalier et universitaire Albert-Chenevier-Henri-Mondor, université Paris-Est Créteil, département de gériatrie, 94010 Créteil, France.
Older patients undergoing surgery face higher risks of mortality and cognitive issues. Multidisciplinary care and early rehabilitation are key to improving surgical outcomes and reducing dependence in the elderly population.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Surgical Care
- Anesthesiology
Context:
- Surgical procedures are increasingly performed on elderly patients.
- Advanced age is a significant independent risk factor for postoperative mortality and complications.
- Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is a notable concern in the older surgical population.
Purpose:
- To review risk factors and management strategies for elderly patients undergoing surgery.
- To highlight the importance of multidisciplinary care and rehabilitation in this demographic.
- To emphasize preventive measures and optimize surgical outcomes for older adults.
Summary:
- Age is an independent predictor of adverse postoperative outcomes, including mortality and cognitive decline.
- Anesthetic technique choice does not substantially alter these age-related risks.
- Preventive strategies, preoperative optimization, and multidisciplinary management are crucial.
- Early postoperative rehabilitation is recommended to enhance prognosis and reduce dependence.
Impact:
- Implementing multidisciplinary management can reduce the risk of postoperative dependence in elderly patients.
- Early rehabilitation strategies are vital for improving the long-term prognosis of older adults post-surgery.
- This review underscores the need for tailored perioperative care for the aging surgical population.
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