Perioperative risk assessment in elderly and high-risk patients1

Abstract

As the population in the United States ages, operations on the elderly are now commonplace. In addition, many aging patients have major comorbidities with significant abnormalities in cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, and renal function. Many patients who are chronologically younger than those of Medicare age have major comorbidities that may greatly increase their operative risk above aging alone. Surgeons are also operating on many patients requiring chronic anticoagulation and those with major organ dysfunction. The elderly are also predisposed to adverse changes in mental status.