Optimizing the Management of Elderly Colorectal Surgery Patients

• Published in: Surgery today (Tokyo, Japan) Vol. 40; no. 11; pp. 999 - 1010
• Main Authors: Tan, Kok-Yang, Konishi, Fumio, Tan, Lawrence, Chin, Wui-Kin, Ong, Hean-Yee, Tan, Phyllis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Springer Japan 01.11.2010
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - physiology; Best practice; Colon - surgery; Colorectal surgery; Digestive System Surgical Procedures; Elderly patient; Humans; Interdisciplinary Communication; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Patient Care Team; Perioperative Care - methods; Perioperative Care - standards; Perioperative management; Rectum - surgery; Review Article; Risk Assessment; Singapore; Surgery; Surgical Oncology; Treatment Outcome; Singapore; Elderly patient; Perioperative management; Colorectal surgery; Best practice
• ISSN: 0941-1291; 1436-2813; 1436-2813
• DOI: 10.1007/s00595-010-4354-5

With the ever increasing number of geriatric surgical patients, there is a need to develop efficient processes that address all of the potential issues faced by patients during the perioperative period. This article explores the physiological changes in elderly surgical patients and the outcomes achieved after major abdominal surgery. Perioperative management strategies for elderly surgical patients in line with the practices of the Geriatric Surgical Team of Alexandra Health, Singapore, are also presented. A coordinated transdisciplinary approach best tackles the complexities encountered in these patients.