Geriatric Emergency Medicine

Over the 50-year period from 1980-2013, the number of elderly patients in emergency departments all over the world will double. As a matter of fact, the elderly suffer from more comorbidities and require a more complex work-up and diagnostic testing. In contrast to younger adult patients, they tend to stay longer in the emergency department (ED) and also have higher rates of morbidity and mortality. In order to address the unmet care needs of elderly ED patients, this book intends to assist the emergency physician to identify the patients at risk for adverse outcomes, conduct appropriate assessment and provide timely and adequate care. At the same time, it discusses the common pitfalls in the emergency management of elderly patients.