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Cardiorespiratory Failure in the Elderly Patient
Author(s) -
Sternlieb Cheryl M.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1974.tb01525.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiorespiratory fitness , heart failure , etiology , disease , heart disease , population , mediastinum , cardiology , pediatrics , intensive care medicine , physical therapy , surgery , environmental health
Cardiorespiratory failure is relatively common in the geriatric population. Although heart disease is the most frequent cause, the specific etiology should be established for each patient. An unusual cause of cardiorespiratory failure is illustrated in a case report on a 71‐year‐old woman with progressive exertional dyspnea whose symptoms were erroneously assumed to be solely on the basis of hypertensive cardiovascular disease and heart failure whereas actually they were on the basis of tracheal compression due to a large thyroid mass in the superior mediastinum. The more common causes of cardiorespiratory failure in the elderly are discussed.