Background: The share of elderly patients undergoing emergency surgery is constantly increasing. Their postoperative outcome remains poor, even if surgery itself is survived in the short or medium term.
Objectives: Important aspects of anesthesiologic care for older emergency patients based upon recent literature and guideline recommendations are presented.
Methods: Selective review of the literature, considering national and international guidelines, meta-analysis and Cochrane reviews.
Conclusion: Anesthesiologic care can significantly influence the perioperative outcome of elderly emergency surgery patients. In this context, emergency anesthesiology exceeds mere anesthesia itself and applies to the overall perioperative management.
Keywords: Anesthesia; Elderly; Emergency treatment; Perioperative care; Postoperative complications.