The first in-depth guide to anesthesia in the geriatric patient Geriatric Anesthesia is the one-of-a-kind guide that reviews everything you need to know about anesthetics in the aged, including palliative care, pain, and polypharmacy. Essential reading for anesthesiologists and geriatricians, this timely reference delivers a detailed overview of both the basic science and practical, day-to-day clinical issues related to the administration of anesthesia in geriatric patients. Geriatric Anesthesia begins with a look at the demographics and economic issues surrounding surgery and anesthesia in the elderly, plus the effects of aging on organ reserve. It then considers geriatric anesthetic implications across the full spectrum of organ systems-from the central/peripheral nervous system to the urinary/hepatic systems. Features Expert authorship-a majority of the authors are from the prestigious Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Department of Anesthesia Full discussion of pharmacology A key section on preoperative assessment, including guidelines on age and anesthetic risk, functional and nutritional status, polypharmacy An insightful review of controversies in intraoperative management, such as the role of invasive monitoring in the elderly, thermoregulation, and hemodilution, prophylactic beta blockade, and regional vs. general anesthesia in achieving successful surgical outcome Postoperative issues, from delirium/postoperative cognitive dysfunction to the assessment and management of chronic pain and palliative care Essential coverage of special topics-perioperative care of the patient with dementia/cognitive dysfunction and medical ethics, including end-of-life care Easy-to-understand tables and 100 line drawings that visually drive home key concepts throughout