title: Post-operative electrolyte imbalance: its incidence and prognostic implications for elderly orthopaedic patients.
abstract: In order to assess incidence and prognostic implications of post-operative electrolyte disorders for elderly patients, 180 patients aged 79.5 +/- 6.8 years, range 70-96 years, admitted to a geriatric-orthopaedic liaison service were prospectively followed from admission to discharge or death. The association of age, basic medical conditions, type of anaesthesia and perioperative complications with post-operative sodium/potassium imbalance and fatality was assessed by logistic regression analysis. The incidence of post-operative electrolyte imbalance and fatality was 15% and 8.8%, respectively. Electrolyte imbalance was independently predicted by spinal anaesthesia [odds ratio (OR) = 2, confidence limits (CL) = 1.24-3.19], multiple pathology (OR = 2, CL = 1.1-3.58), use of cathartics (OR = 1.76, CL = 1.05-2.91) and intra-operative complications (OR = 1.7, CL = 1.03-2.88). Death was predicted by electrolyte imbalance (OR = 2.32, CL = 1.21-4.43), post-operative noninfective complications (OR = 2.3, CL = 1.09-4.84) and age greater than 79 years (OR = 1.17, CL = 1.06-1.3). Post-operative electrolyte imbalance is a marker of very frail medical status and a risk factor for death among elderly orthopaedic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Antonelli Incalzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gemma
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Capparella
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terranova
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanguinetti
authors.forename: P U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Carbonin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000401:mortality*