Performing surgical procedures in the elderly: A literature review

Abstract

This article aims to conduct an integrative literature review, seeking to analyze the scientific literature on surgical management of elderly patients. To conduct the study, the methodology for constructing an integrative review was applied. Thus, several databases were accessed and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to define the studies to be presented in the results and discussion field. The results demonstrate that individualizing the management of elderly patients alters the success rate of surgical procedures and patient survival. Furthermore, the physician is the one who plays the most important role in providing important information before and after surgery, ensuring lower complication rates throughout the surgical treatment, regardless of the procedure. Thus, it is possible to conclude that reviews of practices adopted in hospitals for surgery in the elderly are necessary, in order to ensure better recovery, a higher success rate of surgical procedures and respect the characteristics of elderly patients.