To Operate or Not: How to Approach the Older Patient

Program Description:As baby-boomers are turning 65, there is more need than ever to address the needs of an aging US population, which is expected to live longer and require more medical interventions. Interestingly, review of the literature reveals scant information on how to approach the older surgical patient, without well-established guidelines. The purpose of this miniseminar is to provide expert opinion in multiple subspecialties, such as facial plastics, head-neck oncology, laryngology, and neurotology. Participants will also learn how to prepare older patients for surgery, when to operate, and how to improve post-operative outcomes/care. We aim to have an open discussion, with multiple case presentations.Educational Objectives:1) Determine which older patients are good surgical candidates, patient workup, and necessary pre/post-operative consultations and considerations, and address poly-pharmacy and post-operative complications such as delirium. 2) Recognize which patients will benefit from surge...