Intensive care and the elderly

During the last 20 years the number of elderly patients treated in our intensive care units (ICUs) has almost doubled. Today about 30% of all ICU-patients are more than 70 years of age. Therefore, this subject has become more and more important, both in public policy and for scientific research. In the following, the author will report data collected on the elderly patients admitted to ICUs, such as length of stay in the ICU, costs, mortality rate, quality of life after discharge and acceptance by the patient. Furthermore, special situations such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and mechanical ventilation are discussed in detail. The question of whether patients should be admitted from nursing homes cannot be answered completely. Finally, forensic and ethical aspects of intensive care in the elderly are examined.