title: Special considerations in the elderly patient.
abstract: This article has discussed drug therapy in the elderly and included a discussion of optimal inhaled bronchodilator therapy; issues relating to tracheostomy, a frequent requirement after ventilatory failure in the elderly; oxygen administration, emphasizing its effects on exercise in COPD, and forced oscillation, a new technique that may have utility in the measurement of lung function in the geriatric population.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, California.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Chalker
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Celli
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D010276:Parasympatholytics; D013566:Sympathomimetics; D010100:Oxygen