EP119: Ten Things Older Adults Need to Know Before Elective Surgery

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over the past five years, more than</span> <a href= "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5362160/"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 20 million Americans aged 65 and over had elective surgery</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This number is expected to grow to more than 27 million by 2030.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While elective surgery can be life-changing and even life-saving, it’s not without its risks. There are many things to consider before elective surgery – from the cost of the procedure to who will provide caregiving afterwards during recovery.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition to the normal conversations, exams, and tests that will be run to clear an older adult for surgery, there are ten additional things older adults and their families should know before heading into the Operating Room.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most surgical offices will require thorough lab work, along with heart, lung, and kidney function tests; but if you are over 65 years old or the loved one of someone who’s going to have the elective surgery, be sure you—and those the surgical team — know the following because many of these have been linked to a higher risk of death or complications after an older adult has surgery. These recommendations are based on the</span> <a href= "https://www.facs.org/media/inyehw0d/acsnsqipagsgeriatric2012guidelines.pdf"> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and the American Geriatrics Society Developed Best Practice Guidelines</span></em></a> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">recommend the following:</span></p> <p><strong>Key points covered in this episode: </strong></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">✔️ #1: Know The Person’s Pre-Surgery Cognitive Ability</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though you may be an older adult, have been feeling great recently, and even played golf the day before surger