Perioperative risk: Review of two guidelines for assessing older adults

Elective in-patient surgery is a common occurrence among older persons and primary care physicians are routinely called on to provide preoperative assessment and perioperative risk management of these patients. Older patients undergoing noncardiac surgery may be at increased risk for cardiac or cardiovascular complications, thus perioperative assessment of risk in this population is prudent. Although the range of possible screens and diagnostic tools can make this task unwieldly, the clinical practice guidelines make it more manageable. Two guidelines in particular - one published jointly by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, the other by the American College of Physicians - are particularly suited to perioperative assessment and risk management.