Perioperative care for the older patient

- Nearly 60% of the Dutch population undergoing surgery is over the age of 65. - The elderly are at higher risk of developing perioperative complications (e.g. myocardial infarction, pneumonia or delirium), that lead to a prolonged hospital stay or death. - Preoperative risk stratification calculates the patient's risk by evaluating the presence and extent of frailty, and pathophysiological risk factors, type of surgery and the results of additional testing. - The type of anaesthesia, fluid management and pain management strongly influences the outcome of surgery and the way this is experienced by the patient. - Recent developments focus on multimodal perioperative care of the older patient to shorten hospital stay, using minimal invasive surgery, postoperative anaesthesiology rounds and early geriatric consultation.