[Perioperative evaluation in elderly patients].
With the multiple advances in the field of medicine and the resulting increase in life expectancy, the population pyramid is showing a tendency towards inversion; each day it becomes more feasible to surgically treat elderly patients. These patients represent a challenge not only because of the comorbidity that generally is associated with the elderly patient, but because of the multiple endemic physiological changes that alter and usually diminish their ability to cope with stressful situations. The elderly also experience social, economic and motivational problems during their illnesses, which should be considered during the surgical period in order to optimize the results of surgery and contribute to improve the quality of life of our patients. The approach with patients >65 years of age during the perioperative period should be multifactorial. It is necessary to acknowledge the physiological changes, poly-pathology, poly-pharmaceutical, and social situation of our elderly patients since these are factors that will determine their response to, and recuperation from, the surgical treatment.
Gallardo-Prieto
Lorenza Martínez
LM
Departamento de Medicina Interna del Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, IMSS, Av. Cuauhtémoc 330, Col. Doctores, Deleg. Cuauhtémoc, 06725 México, D.F., México. dralencha@yahoo.com
Nellen-Hummel
Haiko
H
Hamui-Sutton
Alicia
A
Castañón-González
Jorge A
JA
Ibarra-Herrera
Enrique
E
Halabe-Cherem
José
J
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods