The Relationship Between Age and Perioperative Complications

With the continuous rise in life expectancy, the geriatric population has come to account for more than a third of all inpatient surgical procedures. This number will undoubtedly continue to rise over the next two decades. The geriatric population is at an increased risk of perioperative complications, and therefore, the elderly deserve special attention in the perioperative period. Ideally, this should commence upon initial consultation. A thorough history and physical exam can help stratify the patient risk factors and identify which patients require further preoperative testing. Consultations with other providers should be obtained as needed. In the operating room and postoperatively, each patient should receive individualized care tailored according to his/her preoperative work-up. In this paper, we review the steps that should be taken to minimize the risk of perioperative complications in the elderly.