Postoperative management of the geriatric patient

Taking care of the geriatric patient is extremely rewarding, but this population also poses specific challenges, especially in the surgical practice of Urology. Many times the benefits of surgery outweigh the risks. The patient's history needs to be carefully reviewed prior to making any decision for surgical intervention. Some of the most significant concerns include the patient's medical comorbidities, cognitive function, functional status, social support, and living arrangements. Physiological changes of aging, also called homeostenosis, further diminish their ability to cope with postoperative physiologic stresses. This chapter focuses on clinical care of the geriatric urologic patient in the postoperative period.