In a recent study, screening older surgery patients for cognitive impairment can catch undiagnosed problems that raise risk for complications. Among 211 patients aged 65 or older having elective orthopedic surgeries, pre-operative screening revealed that approximately 25% were likely cognitive impairment such as undiagnosed dementia.
These patients were at increased risk of postoperative delirium, longer hospital stays, etc. Source: Reuters Health How important is it to perform pre-surgery cognitive checks in elderly patients?
