Chapter 62
- Anesthesia for the Elderly
- Frederick E. Sieber
- Ronald Pauldine
As of the year 2000, the number of persons older than 65 years
had increased to 33.2 million, with a life expectancy of 76.5 years.[1]
In 2000, elderly surgical patients received 20% or more of all surgical procedures
in acute care hospitals across the country.[2]
Fifty percent of all persons older than 65 years will have a surgical procedure.
Table 62-1
illustrates the
number of procedures for selected surgeries in the year 2000.
The population of the United States will continue to age, and
it is estimated that by 2020, 16% of U.S. citizens will be older than 65 years.[3]
With an aging population, the number of surgical procedures is expected to increase
as much as 50%.[1]
