title: [Anesthesia for geriatric patients. Part 1: age, organ function and typical diseases].
abstract: Due to demographic changes in the population of industrial nations the number of elderly patients undergoing elective or emergency procedures will rise significantly in the coming years. Anesthesia for geriatric patients is challenging for the anesthesiologist in many ways: with increasing age numerous physiological changes occur which all lead to a subsequent reduction of physical performance and compensatory capacity of the organism, in many cases additionally aggravated by chronic illness. Subsequently, these age-dependent changes (with or without chronic illness) increase the risk for admission to intensive care units, perioperative death, treatment costs and a prolonged length of hospital stay. Therefore, subtle preoperative assessment and tailored anesthetic management are essential in elderly patients. Part 1 of this continuous education article covers the influence of age on organ functions and describes typical comorbidities which are of high relevance for the perioperative care of geriatric patients. The special features of anesthetic agents and anesthesia management in the elderly will be presented in part 2.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, Klinikum Lünen - St.-Marien-Hospital, Lünen, Deutschland. herminghaus.anna@klinikum-luenen.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herminghaus
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Löser
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000758:Anesthesia; D002319:Cardiovascular System; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D003693:Delirium / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009420:Nervous System; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012137:Respiratory System; D017694:Rewarming; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors