title: [Intensive care of geriatric patients in surgery].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Concomitant cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases in particular represent a considerable risk to the postoperative course in the geriatric patient.
  The main aim of intensive care consists in the avoidance and treatment of systemic complications. In contrast, local surgical complications as the reason for intensive care are of secondary importance in the geriatric patient. In the postoperative phase, the main problems encountered by the geriatric patient affect the cardiovascular system and pulmonary function. Age-specific pathophysiological changes affecting the lungs and heart require prophylactic measures aimed at preventing atelectasis, bronchial pneumonia and edema. As a rule, patients of advanced age require such intensive care for one to three days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The perioperative care of the elderly patient comprises, where possible, preoperative preparation and, postoperatively, a specific prophylactic intensive care regimen.
authors.affiliation: Chirurgische Klinik, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Köckerling
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Gall
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors
vernacular_title: Intensivmedizin geriatrischer Patienten in der Chirurgie.