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Review
. 2015 Sep;33(3):447-56.
doi: 10.1016/j.anclin.2015.05.003. Epub 2015 Jul 3.

Physiology Considerations in Geriatric Patients

Bret D Alvis  1 , Christopher G Hughes  2
Affiliations
Review

Physiology Considerations in Geriatric Patients

Bret D Alvis et al. Anesthesiol Clin. 2015 Sep.

Abstract

Physiology changes at the structural, functional, and molecular levels as people age, and every major organ system experiences physiologic change with time. The changes to the nervous system result mostly in cognitive impairments, the cardiovascular system develops higher blood pressures with lower cardiac output, the respiratory system undergoes a reduction of arterial oxyhemoglobin levels, the gastrointestinal system experiences delayed gastric emptying and reduction of hepatic metabolism, and the renal system experiences a diminished glomerular filtration rate. Combined, these changes create a complex physiologic condition. This unique physiology must be taken into consideration for geriatric patients undergoing general anesthesia.

Keywords: Aging; Cardiovascular aging; Geriatric; Neurologic aging; Physiology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in the neurological system with age
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in the cardiovascular system with age
Figure 3
Figure 3
Changes in the respiratory system with age
Figure 4
Figure 4
Changes in the gastrointestinal and hepatic system with age
Figure 5
Figure 5
Changes in the renal system with age
Figure 6
Figure 6
Changes in the endocrine system
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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