title: Polypharmacy and perioperative medications in the elderly.
abstract: Polypharmacy is a significant and complex problem affecting more than 40% of the geriatric population. Accurate medication histories may be difficult to obtain, but must include over-the-counter remedies as well as prescription. Physiologic changes occur with aging that predispose elderly patients to adverse drug events. At a minimum, medications with significant anticholinergic properties should be recognized and avoided in the perioperative period.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA. sbarnett@bidmc.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Sheila Ryan
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Barnett
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000758:Anesthesia; D004347:Drug Interactions; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D019990:Perioperative Care; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D028321:Plant Preparations; D019338:Polypharmacy
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D028321:Plant Preparations