The medical evaluation of the elderly preoperative patient

Improvements in anesthesia and surgical techniques have greatly reduced the perioperative mortality and morbidity of elderly patients. Mortality is more closely correlated with pathology, type of surgery, and duration of anesthesia rather than with age. Particular attention should be directed toward cardiac and pulmonary status, because operative mortality and morbidity is related, for the most part, to cardiovascular and pulmonary complications. Postoperatively, the occurrence of pulmonary emboli and painless myocardial infarctions is more common in this age group. Elderly patients are more often confused postoperatively owing to the residual effect of anesthetics, analgesics, fever, and electrolyte disturbances. The stress of surgery and unfamiliar surroundings are also frequent precipitating causes. Orthostatic blood pressure and pulse readings should be checked before ambulating elderly patients who have been at bed rest for more than 2 to 3 days because of the frequent occurrence of orthostatic hypotension. Pressure sores, incontinence, and aspiration pneumonia may also occur owing to immobility. The elderly patient's functional status and mental status may be enhanced by simple encouragement, early mobilization, and by social interaction. It is not possible to precisely define the risks of proposed procedure, nor can the physician eliminate all risks from a surgical procedure. The risks a particular patient is subjected to depend on the complex interplay of the preoperative medical condition of the patient, the type of surgery proposed, and the skill and expertise of the anesthesiologist and surgeon. We must strive to achieve the goal of bringing our patient to the operating room in the best possible condition in the time available.