title: [Postoperative care of the elderly].
abstract: Number of elderly patients undergoing surgery is increasing in Japan owing to the increasing population over 65. Developments of less invasive surgical techniques and advances in perioperative care may also contribute. Postoperative mortality among elderly patients are higher than that in younger patients due to decreased functional reserves of nervous, cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic and renal systems. Physiological changes in vital organs of the elderly and their influences in clinical settings are depicted. Postoperative complications in the elderly, including pneumonia, aspiration, myocardial infarction, delirium, cognitive dysfunction and cerebral infarction are described. Management and preventive strategies of postoperative complications are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Teikyo University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Shigehito
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawamura
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors