Surgery in the Elderly, Counting the Cost and Rising to the Challenge: A review

Increasing life-expectancy globally and in the Caribbean region has led to an increased proportion of the population being categorized as elderly. The ageing population frequently require elective and emergency surgical procedures often with considerable morbidity and mortality. The amount of strain this paradigm can cause in any healthcare system is a huge challenge for the coming generations. In the Caribbean Islands, these challenges are compounded by several unique factors. This article reviews the impact of ageing upon surgery and associated specialties including anaesthesia and intensive care, with special reference to the Caribbean healthcare sector and attempts to provide some suggestions to mitigate such challenges in the near future.