Geriatric anesthesia

Abstract

As a result of improvements in health care, nutrition, and general living standards, the average life expectancy and elderly population is increased worldwide. Aging is associated with a universal and progressive loss of functional reserve and degenerative changes in all organ systems. Although physiologic compensation for age-related changes may be adequate in most geriatric patients, the functional reserve of organ systems is reduced, and susceptibilities to stress- and disease-induced organ system decompensation can occur. Anticipating the interactions between underlying diseases, limited end-organ reserve, and perioperative stress should aid physicians in providing the best perioperative care possible. We review the age-related physiologic changes in organ systems and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes of anesthetics in elderly surgical patients.

Keywords

• geriatric
• anesthesia
• physiologic changes