4. Goal-directed therapy
a. Geriatric trauma patients are very sensitive to both hypovolemia and fluid overload. Monitor the geriatric patient fluid status hourly in the ER. Patients requiring significant fluid resuscitation may need invasive monitoring and so should be moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) as soon as possible.
b. Avoid high-volume continuous intravenous (IV) fluid therapy in patients who have been appropriately resuscitated.
5. Chronic medications
a. Geriatric patients may be on several chronic medications that may affect the trauma work- up, including:
b. Beta-blockers may keep heart rate low, even in patients with major hypovolemic shock.
c. Screen all geriatric patients for antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications.
d. Oral anticoagulants may increase risk of bleeding. Early STAT head computer tomography (CT) may be required in patients at risk for head injury, and rapid reversal may be necessary. (See: Head Injury in Anticoagulated Patient protocol).
e. Geriatric patients at risk for fluid overload who are on chronic oral anticoagulants and require reversal may benefit from Prothrombin Complex Concentrate (PCC) to minimize fluid administration.