Abstract
The likelihood of being a candidate for elective or emergency surgery increases with age. The higher rates of perioperative morbidity and mortality seen in older patients result in part from co-existing medical illnesses. Age alone should not be a contraindication for surgery, however, and the long- term benefits of procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting appear similar for young and old. Emergency operations account for 39 to 75% of all surgery after age 70 and carry a 20-fold increase in mortality compared with elective procedures. Appropriate surgical interventions, therefore, should not be deferred simply because the patient is elderly. Age-associated changes in body composition and organ physiology contribute to the risk of perioperative complications.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 26-31 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Geriatrics |
Volume | 50 |
Issue number | 1 |
State | Published - 1995 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology