Editor's Note Elderly cardiac surgery patients are at increased risk of developing delirium and other changes in cognitive function postoperatively. However, research presented at the Anesthesiology 2015 annual meeting, found using monitors to track depth of anesthesia and oxygenation levels significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative delirium and associated cognitive…

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Editor's Note Postoperative hip fracture patients are more likely to be successfully discharged home if they are rehabilitated in centers that care for at least 25 hip fracture patients per year, this study finds. Successful discharge was 43.7% for high-volume facilities (> 24 admissions/year) vs 18.8% for low-volume facilities (1-6…

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Editor's Note Patients age 90 years and older with aortic stenosis can benefit from transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), this study finds. TAVR patients had a comparable risk of mortality as those who did not have the procedure, and quality of life improved within 6 months.  

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Editor's Note Seniors are much more likely than younger patients to be admitted to the hospital after ambulatory surgery, this study finds. Of more than 53,000 patients analyzed, those aged 65 and older were 54% more likely to be admitted to the hospital within 30 days of ambulatory surgery than…

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When Mark Katlic, MD, MMM, FACS, descended into the basement of the hospital where he was a resident 30 years ago to satisfy his curiosity, he had no idea that what he found would set him on his career path. Dr Katlic had cared for a few surgical patients more…

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The number of elderly people in the US is on the rise, and so is the number of older patients having surgery. However, while advances in technology and techniques may make surgery more feasible for those age 65 and older, ensuring successful outcomes for this cohort is challenging. Specific guidelines…

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Anyone undergoing surgery is at heightened risk of falling, especially during recovery from sedation, and for the most vulnerable patients, a fall can be disabling or even deadly. Falls are among the adverse events monitored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and state surveyors. The science of assessing…

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About half of all surgery in the US is performed on patients over 65. These older patients have been found to be at increased risk for post-operative complications. Complications often lead to disability loss of independence, poorer quality of life, high costs, and mortality. Though many patients over 65 do…

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Though morbidity and mortality differences based on age might be expected, the degree of difference is staggering. Perioperative morbidity in older patients can be as high as twice that of younger patients, and mortality can be 3 to 7 times higher, finds a study in the Archives of Surgery. Another…

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Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland, was known locally as an excellent "baby" hospital at a time when the community population was aging. Deciding to broaden its scope to better serve the community, leaders at Holy Cross decided to expand the hospital's expertise in gerontology, opening its Seniors Emergency…

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