Some aspects of abdominal surgery in the elderly patient.

Most operations on elderly patients are of an urgent nature. If time permits, measures to improve cardiac, respiratory and renal functions in the appropriate ways should be undertaken. During recovery from anesthesia careful but adequate sedation will reduce the risk of myocardial ischemia. Throughout the postoperative period constant encouragement of the older patient is particularly helpful.Transverse abdominal incisions and the frequent use of temporary gastrostomy are advocated.External hernia, hiatus hernia, peptic ulcer, carcinoma of the stomach, biliary disease, appendicits, intestinal obstruction, and carcinoma of the large intestine are discussed specifically, with special reference to the practical details of management in the elderly patient.