PREOPERATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE ELDERLY PATIENT

Preoperative assessment of the elderly patient for surgery is vital to the success of the surgical procedure. A thorough evaluation must fir st begin with an understanding of the physiologic and pathophysiologic changes unique to the elderly patient and the aging skin. A complete preoperative assessment entails assessing the patient and dermatologic problem, preparing the patient and caregivers for the surgery and its expected outcomes, and highlighting issues and problems that need to be managed prior to the procedure. With the continued growth of the ge riatric population, all dermatologic surgeons should be aware of the s pecial issues related to their geriatric patients. With heightened awa reness of and screening for potential pitfalls in the elderly surgical patient, adverse outcomes can be avoided.