[General anesthesia in the elderly].
Physiologic and pathologic changes due to ageing should be taken in account for the preoperative evaluation and peroperative management of geriatric patients. Pharmacokinetic changes ed to reduce the doses of intravenous agents by 50%. MAC of inhalational agents is decreased by 25 to 75%. Pharmacodynamic deleterious effects are limitative in the choice of some drugs. Cardiocirculatory and pulmonary functions need specific, if possible non invasive monitoring, during surgery, recovery and the early postoperative days.