The Nursing clinics of North America
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Nurs. Clin. North Am. · Jun 2006
ReviewNursing considerations in the geriatric surgical patient: the perioperative continuum of care.
Although aging is a natural process, caring for an older person is not the same as caring for a middle-aged adult person. The perioperative and perianesthesia nurses need to be competent in geriatric nursing care and possess specialized knowledge and skills related to a myriad of geriatric issues. This article focuses on the special needs of the elderly population and how the perioperative nursing team may address their care best.
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Nurs. Clin. North Am. · Jun 2006
ReviewBariatric surgery risks, benefits, and care of the morbidly obese.
The American Society for Bariatric Surgery defines morbid obesity as a lifelong, progressive, life-threatening, genetically-related, costly, multi-factorial disease of excess fat storage with multiple comorbidities. Obesity satisfies the definition of morbid obesity when it reaches the point of significant risk for obesity-related comorbidities. These significant comorbidities often result in either significant physical disability or even death. ⋯ Morbid obesity is defined as being at least 100 lb heavier than ideal body weight, or a body mass index (BMI) of 40. BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the height in meters squared. This article focuses on the causes, treatment, and perioperative nursing care of patients who are morbidly obese.