Fallstricke Bei Der Versorgung Hochbetagter Notfallpatienten

The current demographic development in Germany causes a rising utilization of emergency medical sevices by elderly patients. These patients are characterized by a limited stress tolerance and the coexistence of multiple disorders (multimorbidity). The symptoms of acute illnesses are significantly altered in geriatric patients compared to younger people. In addition, elderly patients are often in complex care situations. Information necessary for deciding upon urgent interventions is only available to a certain extent or not at all. Past medical history is difficult to obtain, at least partially due to neurocognitive disorders. The emergency physician must therefore make decisions based on incomplete information. The challenge in this situation is to differentiate between acute and chronic conditions and to assess the functional reserves of organ systems, i.e., the extent of vital threats. Maintaining and improving the quality of life is the primary goal of medical interventions in this age group. Improving the logistics of intersectoral communication and the technical support for the emergency response team could substantially increase the quality of emergency care for elderly people.