With the graying of the world’s population, there is a significant increase in the proportion of elderly patients undergoing surgical treatments. Anesthesia in the elderly requires a specific approach including physiological and psychological alterations due to the aging process. During the preanesthetic evaluation of a geriatric case; the patient should be informed about anesthesia practice and possible feelings during perioperative period and give a chance to make a choice for premedication and anesthesia method. Physiological changes emerging with age cause the change of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic response of the patient against the drugs. A better understanding of the important pre and postoperative anesthesia issues may help improve the elderly patient’s postoperative course. This review discusses perioperative risks related to anesthesia and the prevention of adverse outcomes in elderly patients.
Keywords: anesthesia, geriatric patient, complication