The perioperative nurse has completed the presurgical assessment of an 82-year-old female patient who is scheduled for a left total knee replacement. When planning this patients care, the nurse should address the consequences of the patients aging cardiovascular system. These include an increased risk of which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The aging heart and blood vessels have decreased ability to respond to stress. Reduced cardiac output
and limited cardiac reserve make the elderly patient vulnerable to changes in circulating volume and blood oxygen levels. There is not an increased risk for hypopnea, hyperkalemia, or hyperphosphatemia because of an aging cardiovascular system.

The Perioperative Nurse Has Completed the Presurgical Assessment of an 82-Year-Old