title: Preoperative evaluation of the elderly patient.
abstract: Elderly patients are more likely to require surgery and to experience surgical complications than are younger patients. However, age should not be the sole factor in the decision for or against surgery. The surgical risk can be estimated on the basis of both age-related and disease-associated changes in the individual patient. Preoperative evaluation of the elderly patient requires assessment of cardiopulmonary and renal function, immune function, nutritional status and overall homeostatic capacity.
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Spokane, Washington.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Manning
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy; D006262:Health; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011292:Premedication; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012306:Risk; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000517:prevention & control