Jeffrey H. Silverstein, MD, is Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Surgery, and Geriatrics and Adult Development at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. G. Alex Rooke, MD, PhD, is Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Washington and the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System. J.G. Reves, MD, is Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean, College of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Medical University of South Carolina. Charles H. McLeskey, MD, is in private practice in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Geriatric anesthesia is a rapidly evolving field which addresses the growing population of elderly who are now able to undergo surgical procedures that weren't considered even a few years ago. This is a major revision of a classic anesthesia reference, complied by editors considered the undisputed leaders in this growing field. The text highlights both essential knowledge and recent breakthroughs of importance to any who work with the elderly.

to Clinical Geriatrics.- The Practice of Geriatric Anesthesia.- Demographics and Economics of Geriatric Patient Care.- Theories of Aging.- Ethical Management of the Elderly Patient.- Teaching Geriatric Anesthesiology to Practitioners, Residents, and Medical Students.- Research Priorities in Geriatric Anesthesiology.- Cardinal Manifestations of Aging and Disease in the Elderly.- Alterations in Metabolic Functions and Electrolytes.- Perioperative Thermoregulation.- Postoperative Central Nervous System Dysfunction.- Alterations in Circulatory Function.- The Aging Respiratory System: Anesthetic Strategies to Minimize Perioperative Pulmonary Complications.- Operative Debridements of Chronic Wounds.- Anesthetic Management of the Aged Surgical Candidate.- Preoperative Risk Stratification and Methods to Reduce Risk.- Anesthetic Implications of Chronic Medications.- The Pharmacology of Opioids.- Intravenous Hypnotic Anesthetics.- Inhalational Anesthetics.- Relaxants and Their Reversal Agents.- Management of Regional Anesthesia.- Fluid Management.- Pain Management.- Anesthesia Considerations for Geriatric Outpatients.- Anesthesia for Common Surgical Procedures in the Aged.- Sedation and Monitoring.- Total Hip Replacement, Joint Replacement, and Hip Fracture.- Transurethral Prostatectomy Syndrome and Other Complications of Urologic Procedures.- Thoracic Procedures.- Cardiac Procedures.- Vascular Procedures.- Abdominal Procedures.

Geriatric anesthesia is a rapidly growing and evolving field. The last few years have seen significant advancements in and important new modalities for addressing the needs of an aging population. The editors of Geriatric Anesthesiology's second edition are uniquely situated to put together a text highlighting both essential knowledge and recent breakthroughs of importance to any who work with the elderly. For the second edition, the editors have introduced a streamlined chapter format and have assembled a selection of chapters intended to deepen the understanding of anesthesic management of the geriatric patient.