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Advanced Trauma Life Support ATLS Student Course Manual 2018

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218<br />

CHAPTER 11 n Geriatric <strong>Trauma</strong><br />

table 11-1 effects of aging on organ systems and implications for care<br />

ORGAN SYSTEM FUNCTIONAL CHANGES IMPLICATIONS FOR CARE<br />

Cardiac<br />

Pulmonary<br />

Renal<br />

Skin/Soft Tissue/<br />

Musculoskeletal<br />

Endocrine<br />

Brain mass<br />

Eye disease<br />

Depth perception<br />

Discrimination<br />

of colors<br />

Pupillary response<br />

Respiratory<br />

vital capacity<br />

Renal function<br />

2- to 3-inch loss<br />

in height<br />

Impaired blood flow<br />

to lower leg(s)<br />

Degeneration<br />

of the joints<br />

Total body water<br />

• Declining function<br />

• Decreased sensitivity to catecholamines<br />

• Decreased myocyte mass<br />

• Atherosclerosis of coronary vessels<br />

• Increased afterload<br />

• Fixed cardiac output<br />

• Fixed heart rate (β-blockers)<br />

• Thoracic kyphoscoliosis<br />

• Decreased transverse thoracic diameter<br />

• Decreased elastic recoil<br />

• Reduced functional residual capacity<br />

• Decreased gas exchange<br />

• Decreased cough reflex<br />

• Decreased mucociliary function<br />

• Increased oropharyngeal colonization<br />

• Loss of renal mass<br />

Nerve damage<br />

(peripheral neuropathy)<br />

• Decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR)<br />

• Decreased sensitivity to antidiuretic hormone<br />

(ADH) and aldosterone<br />

• Loss of lean body mass<br />

• Osteoporosis<br />

• Changes in joints and cartilages<br />

• Degenerative changes (including c-spine)<br />

• Loss of skin elastin and subcutaneous fat<br />

• Decreased production and response to<br />

thyroxin<br />

• Decreased dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)<br />

• Lack of “classic” response to hypovolemia<br />

Stroke<br />

• Risk for cardiac ischemia<br />

• Increased risk of dysrythmias<br />

Diminished hearing<br />

• Elevated baseline blood pressure<br />

Sense of smell and taste<br />

Saliva production<br />

• Increased risk for respiratory failure<br />

• Increased risk for pneumonia<br />

• Poor tolerance to rib fractures<br />

Esophageal activity<br />

Cardiac stroke<br />

volume and rate<br />

Heart disease and high<br />

• Routine renal labs will be normal (not<br />

reflective blood of dysfunction) pressure<br />

• Drug dosing for renal insufficiency<br />

• Decreased ability to concentrate urine<br />

Kidney disease<br />

• Urine flow may be normal with hypovolemia<br />

• Increased risk for acute kidney injury<br />

Gastric secretions<br />

• Increased risk for fractures<br />

• Decreased mobility<br />

Number of<br />

• Difficulty for oral intubation<br />

• Risk of skin<br />

body<br />

injury<br />

cells<br />

due to immobility<br />

• Increased risk for hypothermia<br />

• Challenges in rehabilitation<br />

Elasticity of skin<br />

Thinning of epidermis<br />

• Occult hypothyroidism<br />

• Relative hypercortisone state<br />

• Increased risk of infection<br />

15%–30% body fat<br />

n FIGURE 11-2 Arthritic changes can complicate airway and cervical<br />

spine management. This sagittal T2-weighted image shows severe<br />

multilevel degenerative changes affecting disk spaces and posterior<br />

elements, associated with severe central canal stenosis, cord<br />

compression, and small foci of myelomalacia at the C4-C5 level.<br />

n BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

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