Geriatrics 3 : Gynecology · Orthopaedics · Anesthesiology · Surgery · Otorhinolaryngology · Ophthalmology · Dermatology

Volume 3 of this series is concerned with geriatric aspects of surgical specialties: gynecology, orthopedics, general surgery, otorhinolaryn­ gology, and ophthalmology. Closely associated with these specialties is anesthesiology. Dermatology has an intermediate position between surgical and nonsurgical fields. The peculiarities of physiological and pathological aging of otgans and the consequences for diagnosis and therapy - presented in the first two volumes - are of great significance, especially for surgical special­ ties. There are a large number of pre-, intra-, and postoperative problems in multimorbid geriatric patients, e. g. , coronary insufficiency, brady­ arrhythmias, hypertonia, and hypotonia. While as recently as the tum of the century the age of 65 years was viewed as a contraindication for sur­ gery, today even older patients undergo operations on aortic aneurysms, bypass operations for coronary sclerosis, pulmonary resections, and abdominosacral resections of rectal carcinomas, for example. Pre­ requisite for successful surgery at an advanced age is good pre- and postoperative care of multimorbid patients. Physiological changes of the lungs with aging, the increased frequency in pneumonia and pulmonary just a few embolisms with age, and the decrease in receptors, to give examples, confront anesthetists with difficulties. The maxim "in old age a little less" is also applicable in this field. Only improved experimental gerontological research, possibly reaching even into anesthesia, will provide objective data for anesthesia in elderly patients. The skin is an organ that experiences characteristic qualitative and quantitative changes in old age. Front Matter....Pages I-XXIV Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Pre- and Postmenopause....Pages 2-45 Epidemiology: Some Aspects of the Climacteric Woman....Pages 46-64 Front Matter....Pages 65-65 Orthopaedics in the Elderly....Pages 66-99 Front Matter....Pages 101-101 Anesthesia....Pages 102-150 Front Matter....Pages 151-151 Gastrointestinal Surgery in the Elderly....Pages 152-176 Surgery in Old Age-Fractures....Pages 177-192 The Prostate in the Elderly....Pages 193-212 Thoracic Surgery in the Elderly: Heart and Vessels....Pages 213-228 Pulmonary and Oesophageal Surgery in the Elderly....Pages 229-268 Front Matter....Pages 269-269 Otolaryngology in the Elderly....Pages 270-296 Front Matter....Pages 297-297 Aging of the Eyelids....Pages 298-309 The Eye in the Aging Patient: Cornea....Pages 310-325 Age-Related Changes in the Anterior Segment of the Eye....Pages 326-351 Aqueous Humor and Vitreous Production....Pages 352-372 The Eye in the Elderly: Lens....Pages 373-424 The Aging Retina....Pages 425-450 Front Matter....Pages 451-451 Physiologic and Pathologic Alterations in Old Skin....Pages 452-464 Back Matter....Pages 465-484