The impact of aging physiology in critical care.
Aging physiology greatly impacts care delivery in the geriatric patient population. Consideration should be given to addressing the patient-specific needs regarding the systemic changes seen in the aging patient. Each major body system presents its own unique challenges to the critical care practitioner, and a comprehensive understanding of these changes is necessary to effectively care for this patient population. This article summarizes these changes and provides key points for the practitioner to consider when caring for the aging patient in the critical care arena.
Nursing Education and Research Department, University of Louisville Hospital, 530 South Jackson Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. Electronic address: mandiwa@ulh.org.
Mandi
M
Walker
Nursing Education and Research Department, University of Louisville Hospital, 530 South Jackson Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
Mark
M
Spivak
Nursing Education and Research Department, University of Louisville Hospital, 530 South Jackson Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
Mary
M
Sebastian
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology; D064648:Critical Care Nursing; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012121:Respiration, Artificial
Aging; Critical care; Geriatric; Physiology