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Considerations in the Elderly

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Complexities in Colorectal Surgery

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Abstract

The care of elderly patients with colorectal problems introduces significant complexity even to basic management. Preoperative assessment of this patient is essential to optimizing treatment, and you should consider their physiologic, not chronologic age. Identification of risk factors should guide surgical planning. Issues related to postoperative function and surgical technique are often different in the elderly compared to younger patients. Other matters regarding informed consent are also often complex and must take into consideration patient competence and family issues. Screening recommendations for modalities such as colonoscopy may apply differently to the elderly patient and current guidelines provide a rationale for appropriate selection. Optimizing surgical outcomes in the elderly patient requires a holistic, judicious, and compassionate approach.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Pennsylvania Hospital/Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, 8th and Walnut, 20th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19106, USA

    Joshua I. S. Bleier MD, FACS, FASCRS

  2. Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Pennsylvania Hospital, University of Pennsylvania, 8th and Walnut, 20th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19106, USA

    Robert D. Fry MD, FACS, FASCRS

Authors
  1. Joshua I. S. Bleier MD, FACS, FASCRS
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  2. Robert D. Fry MD, FACS, FASCRS
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joshua I. S. Bleier MD, FACS, FASCRS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery Department of Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, WA, USA

    Scott R. Steele MD

  2. Division of Colorectal Surgery Department of Surgery, UMass Memorial Medical Center University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    Justin A. Maykel MD

  3. Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery Department of Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Bradley J. Champagne MD

  4. Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Science Center LSU School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Guy R. Orangio MD

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Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of a polyp (MPG 14,866 kb)

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Bleier, J.I.S., Fry, R.D. (2014). Considerations in the Elderly. In: Steele, S.R., Maykel, J.A., Champagne, B.J., Orangio, G.R. (eds) Complexities in Colorectal Surgery. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9022-7_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9022-7_25

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-9021-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-9022-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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