Management of anaesthesia in elderly patients

Abstract

Increasing numbers of very elderly patients require surgery. Elderly patients are at increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality because of the high incidence of co-existing age-related diseases. With greater experience, outcomes from major operations in octogenarians have improved. The increased risks of surgery in the elderly must, however, be individually weighed against the benefits to be gained from symptom relief and improved quality of life.