Ageing, dementia and nutrition Flashcards
How does the respiratory system change with age?
- Decreased lung and chest wall compliance
- Reduced Total Vital Capacity, Forced Vital Capacity, Forced Expiratory Volume and Vital Capacity
Why do these changes occur (respiratory)?
Reduction in elastic support of the airways, which leads to increased collapsibility of alveoli and terminal conducting airways.
What are common post-operative complications in the elderly regarding the respiratory system?
Atelectasis, Pulmonary embolism + Pneumonia
What is atelectasis?
Collapse or closure of a lung, which results in reduced or absent gas exchange
How does pharmacokinetics and drug interactions change with increasing age?
- Elderly have increased sensitivity to CNS depressant drugs
- reduced hepatic and renal function which leads to slower metabolism and elimination of drugs
How does the skin change with increasing age?
It becomes thinner and subcutaneous blood vessels become more fragile, so patients tend to bruise easily
Reduced collagen fibres
What happens to blood vessels with age?
Large and medium sized vessels become less elastic and therefore become more compliant????.
By how much does cardiac output fall per decade and why?
3%, which is due to reduced stroke volume and ventricular contractility.
How does reduced cardiac output affect anaesthesia and why?
It causes delayed onset of intravenous anaesthesia as reduced CO increases the arm-brain circulation time for drugs and means the intravenous anaesthesia is achieved more slowly.
What is malnutrition?
Malnutrition is any condition causes by an imbalance between what an individual eats and what that individual requires to maintain health. This can result from eating too little or too much and may also be caused by an incorrect balance of nutrients.
What is health-related quality of life?
Quality of life in clinical medicine represents the functional effect of an illness and its consequent therapy upon a patient, as perceived by the patient.
