PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Donna L. Miller TI - Perioperative care of the elderly patient: special considerations DP - 1995 Nov 01 TA - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine PG - 383--390 VI - 62 IP - 6 4099 - http://www.ccjm.org/content/62/6/383.short 4100 - http://www.ccjm.org/content/62/6/383.full SO - Cleve Clin J Med1995 Nov 01; 62 AB - SUMMARY Unlike older studies, which cited age as an independent risk factor for surgical mortality, recent studies indicate that the presence of underlying diseases and the type, duration and urgency of surgery are better predictors of outcome than age alone. A preoperative assessment that defines medical, functional, and psychosocial problems of elderly patients can lead to interventions to improve surgical outcomes.