Rapid Fire
Increasing prescription drug use trends in the United States affects patients across all ages, but especially the geriatric patient. As patients age, they are at increased risk for adverse events…
EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Infections in Older Adults
Infections in elderly patients can prove diagnostically challenging. Age-related factors affecting the immune system in older individuals contribute to nonspecific presentations. Other age-related factors and chronic conditions have symptoms that…
Genitourinary Emergencies in Older Adults
Older adults are frequently seen in the emergency department for genitourinary complaints, necessitating that emergency physicians are adept at managing a myriad of genitourinary emergencies. Geriatric patients may present with…
Disaster Diagnoses in Geriatric Patients with Abdominal Pain
Care of geriatric patients with abdominal pain can pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to emergency physicians. Older adults rarely present with classic signs, symptoms, and laboratory abnormalities. The incidence…
Cardiopulmonary Emergencies in Older Adults
Older adults are susceptible to serious illnesses, including atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, pneumonia, and pulmonary embolism. Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia in this age group and can…
Identification of Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Elderly
When older adults experience acute coronary syndrome (ACS), they often present with what are considered “atypical” symptoms. Because their symptoms less often match the expected presentation of ACS, older patients…
Chronic Brain Failure
Chronic brain failure, also known as dementia or major neurocognitive disorder, is a syndrome of progressive functional decline characterized by both cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms. It can be conceptualized like…
Rapid Fire
Delirium is common in older emergency department (ED) patients. Although associated with significant morbidity and mortality, it often goes unrecognized. A consistent approach to evaluation of mental status, including use…
Resuscitation of the Critically Ill Older Adult
In 30 years, adults 65 and older will represent 20% of the US population, with increased medical comorbidities leading to higher rates of critical illness and mortality. Despite significant acute…
Geriatric Trauma
Geriatric trauma patients will continue to increase in prevalence as the population ages, and many specific considerations need to be made to provide appropriate care to these patients. This article…
