Geriatric Anaesthesia for Centenarians- A Challenging, Learning Experience!

Abstract

With improving healthcare facilities, the geriatric population in India is on the rise. Anaesthesia in the geriatric age group poses many challenges to the peri-operative physician because of the decreased functional reserve and various comorbidities associated with advanced age. In addition to that, there is greater risk of post-operative cognitive dysfunction and delirium. Anaesthesia in patients above 100 years is a sub-speciality in itself, with several special considerations. We, hereby present the case of a 102-year-old female patient with severe aortic stenosis posted for left-sided dynamic hip screw fixation on an emergency basis under low dose, unilateral spinal anaesthesia, supplemented with slow and graded epidural anaesthesia.