Abstract

COVARRUBIAS-GOMEZ, Alfredo; ALVARADO-PEREZ, Javier; TEMPLOS-ESTEBAN, Luz A  and  LOPEZ-COLLADA ESTRADA, María. Considerations for acute pain analgesic management in the elderly. Rev. mex. anestesiol. [online]. 2021, vol.44, n.1, pp.43-50.  Epub Oct 11, 2021. ISSN 0484-7903.  https://doi.org/10.35366/97776.

Over the last few decades the elderly population is growing by the second. Most of their illnesses are of the chronic degenerative type, many of which are very painful. Also, more and more elderly patients are requiring surgery for a number of reasons; 62% of these patients will experience severe postoperatory pain. Aging is associated with presbialgesia, which is a reduced response to a noxious stimule. When these patients have dementia or other cognitive impairment conductual scales such must be utilized. There elderly might be more sensitive to analgesic drugs due to various and unique physiological aspects. NSAIDs are considered high risk drugs in fragile elderly patients. Acetaminophen is a safe analgesic drug without many gastrointestinal, renal or cardiovascular secondary effects. Nevertheless, a fragile elderly patient should not receive more than 2 grams daily. When giving opioids, one should start with the minimum dose and titrate slowly when needed in order to avoid adverse effects.

Keywords : Pain; acute pain; postoperative pain; elderly; geriatrics.

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