Should I worry if a geriatric trauma victim has normal vital signs with apparently minor injuries? . . . . . . . . . Yes. Vital signs in the elderly may remain normal until acute deterioration occurs. Geriatric patients have a blunted tachycardic response to injury. A “normal” blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg may represent relative hypotension in the elderly hypertensive patient. The elderly patient’s diminished cardiovascular reserve, increased susceptibility to fractures, and the presence of comorbid conditions such as coronary artery disease can result in significant morbidity, even with injuries that appear to be minor. Elderly patients have the highest trauma mortality rate of any age group, and normal vital signs or a low injury severity score should never put the physician at ease.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Oct 2013 06:30:30 +0000