Anesthetic considerations in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia that is estimated to affect approximately 3 to 4 million Americans. Given the substantial number of people affected with this disease, it is likely that anesthesiologists will encounter many patients with Alzheimer's disease. Questions as to potential problems including informed consent, drug interactions, and preoperative progression of the disease may arise. This review describes anesthetic considerations, including pharmacologic and physiologic issues, in this growing population.
Fernandez
Christopher R
CR
Department of Anesthesiology, Texas Tech University School of Medicine, Lubbock 79430, USA.
Fields
Aaron
A
Richards
Todd
T
Kaye
Alan David
AD
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000758:Anesthesia; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors