The Geriatric COVID Patient

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant impact on healthcare across the world. The pandemic is caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and is transmitted through respiratory secretions. The geriatric population comprised most morbidities and mortalities related to COVID-19. Common symptoms include fever, cough, dyspnea, myalgia, and culminating in acute hypoxic respiratory failure and acute myocardial injury. Geriatric patients with COVID-19 who require surgery are at a greater risk of postoperative complications. An assessment of the risks and benefits of surgical intervention relies on the degree of COVID-19 pathology and the type of surgery whether emergent or elective. The presence of COVID-19 does not warrant a change in the modality of anesthesia that would be performed for any given surgery in the absence of COVID-19.

Keywords: Acute hypoxic respiratory failure, Acute respiratory distress syndrome, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Pandemic, Personal protective equipment, Preoperative testing, SARS-CoV-2, Vaccination.