The post-operative care of the older patient: the geriatric and rehabilitation perspective.

As the population of our nation and our state grows older operative procedures will be performed at increasing rates on older patients. Unique aspects of older persons and the conditions with which they are afflicted place them at high risk for loss of function, medical complications, and surgical complications in the perioperative period. Only by conducting comprehensive preoperative assessments, establishing appropriate goals, maintaining meticulous perioperative care and beginning rehabilitation early will it be possible to reduce these risks and maximize the functional outcome for the older surgical patient.