title: Surgery in the elderly.
abstract: The elderly (those 75 years of age or older) are a heterogeneous group. They present with both elective and urgent surgical problems, and risk assessment, decision-making and perioperative care are typically more challenging than in younger patients. An appreciation for this heterogeneity and an understanding of how physiologic changes of aging affect surgical care are essential if the best outcomes are to be achieved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Ottawa Hospital, Civic Site, Ont. jwatters@ohri.ca
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Watters
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D012106:Research; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative