title: Effects of vascular surgery on the elderly vascular patient.
abstract: The majority of vascular patients are elderly and present a unique set of problems after an operation. Age plays a major role in their recovery, but the greatest challenge is their preexisting medical problems. The changes that occur with aging in the following body systems will be discussed: cardiac, pulmonary, renal, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and central nervous system. Special concerns related to pain management, risk of delirium, and wound healing present continuing nursing challenges that require close observation after surgery.
authors.affiliation: London Health Sciences Centre, Division of Vascular Surgery, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D013527:Perioperative Nursing / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology*