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Do I take the risk of anesthesia or do I forego the operation? This question often concerns older people before an operation.
“From a surgical perspective, there is a clear answer to this: modern surgical and anesthesia techniques enable even elderly patients to undergo a low-risk procedure,” says Johannes Stopfer, primary surgeon at the Evangelical Hospital in Vienna.
“The brains of older people often react more sensitively to anesthetics,” says Sibylle Langenecker, head of the Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine. Before admission to hospital, so-called pre-anesthesia discussions are carried out in which the general state of health and any cognitive impairments – such as dementia – are clarified. “Depending on the initial situation, we can then reduce possible risks. If necessary, for example, we switch to alternative preparations if medications previously taken cause confusion.”
Take countermeasures after the operation
The days after the operation are crucial. Longer hospital stays, combined with bed rest, can temporarily throw some people off track, as a study by the Aachen University Hospital confirms. According to the expert, the state of confusion can be counteracted: “Early mobilization, sufficient fluid intake and a regulated sleep-wake rhythm are just as important as promoting general well-being and cognitive stimulation.”
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Source: Nachrichten
