J Korean Med Assoc.  2017 May;60(5):384-390. 10.5124/jkma.2017.60.5.384.

Postoperative care of geriatric patients

• Lee DK
• Kim YH
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2378970
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2017.60.5.384

Abstract

The geriatric surgical population experiences greater morbidity and mortality than the general surgical population. Understanding the characteristics of postoperative complications in elderly patients and carrying out adequate preventive measures and treatments are the best way to reduce postoperative complications in the geriatric surgical population. The proportion of the geriatric population has gradually increased in the Republic of Korea, and this is a worldwide trend. The postoperative care of elderly patients has drawn particular attention given the increasing interest in geriatric medicine. We introduce several postoperative complications that are closely associated with the elderly surgical population and the possible etiology of these complications, and discuss the differences between the general patient population and elderly patients.

Keyword

Postoperative complications; Aged; Frail elderly

MeSH Terms

Aged
Frail Elderly
Humans
Mortality
Postoperative Care*
Postoperative Complications
Republic of Korea

Figure

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  Figure 1 The contributing factors of postoperative delirium. Some of revealed factors have enough scientific evidences. However, several factors still need to be evaluated and requires adequate evidences. This figure included only conclusive and highly related factors of postoperative delirium.

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