title: Experience with the preoperative invasive measurement of haemodynamic, respiratory and renal function in 100 elderly patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery.
abstract: The extent of physiological disturbance in a preoperative population of 100 elderly patients scheduled for elective major surgery was measured. Haemodynamic, respiratory and renal function were evaluated preoperatively in the intensive care unit. Of these patients 13% had serious problems requiring either postponement of the operation (7%) or its cancellation (6%). Cardiac index was 2.2 l/min/m2 or less in 11% of patients; creatinine clearance 50 ml/min or less in 19% of patients; mean blood pressure was equal to or exceeded 120 mmHg in 15% of patients and intrapulmonary shunt equalled or exceeded 15% in 10% of patients. The mean duration of stay in the intensive care unit was four days, including the preoperative day. The logistics of preoperative admission were implemented without undue difficulty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Western General Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Older
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000368:Aged; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000401:mortality