Anaesthesia and the elderly





  1. Anaesthesia and the Elderly
    1. Physiological changes with age
    2. Altered pharmacological response
    3. Erosion of physiological reserve
    4. Frequent co-morbidities
    5. Positioning difficulties
    6. Communication difficulties (eyesight, hearing, CVAs)
    7. Mental clarity, memory loss
    8. Importance of social circumstances
    9. Modifications necessary when anaesthetising the elderly
    10. Special efforts to communicate clearly (N.B. deafness and blindness)
    11. Problems of consent in mental infirmity
    12. Recognising the limitations of therapy
    13. Ethics of ‘do not resuscitate’ orders

CEACCP 2001: DECEMBER
Chris Dodds and David Murray
Pre-operative assessment of the elderly

CEACCP 2004: DECEMBER
David Murray and Chris Dodds
Perioperative care of the elderly

CEACCP 2006: FEBRUARY
Daniel P Fines and Andrew M Severn
Anaesthesia and cognitive disturbance in the elderly