Care of the older perioperative patient

Abstract

Britains older population is on the increase. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the perioperative care of older patients does not take into consideration the physiological changes that come with ageing and their implications for care. Active consideration of physiological changes can contribute to the reduction in morbid events and achieves a better outcome for the older surgical patient.

Complicações pós-operatórias menores relacionadas à anestesia em pacientes de cirurgias eletivas ginecológicas e ortopédicas em um hospital universitário de Kingston, Jamaica

“…In this study, younger patients were also more likely to have complaints than older patients, and the difference was most marked in patients less than 45 years. Our observations may reflect greater stoicism in older patients 11,12 who may also have had previous experience with anesthesia, and thus may be less likely to report minor problems even when interviewed. This is supported by studies of patient satisfaction post-anesthesia that report higher satisfaction scores in older patients.…”

What do patients want to happen to their dentures before surgery?

“…Since the advent of the laryngeal mask, many anaesthetists now leave dentures in place throughout the anaesthetic episode as the dentures help to stabilise and maintain the position of the mask(. 11 • In my experience, some anaesthetists prefer to remove dentures if they are going to intubate, as they feel that dentures pose a risk to the maintenance of the airway during anaesthesia. This does not, however, prevent the patient coming to theatre with their dentures in place and having them remo ed in the anaesthetic room.…”