This issue of Anesthesiology Clinics prepares the anesthesiologist for the most challenging problems he will face with geriatric patients. Topics covered include delirium, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, fat embolism during hip replacement, Parkinson's disease and deep brain stimulator placement, diastolic dysfunction, atrial fibrillation, delayed arousal, severe atrial stenosis, multiple medications, informed consent and the ethical management of the older patient, dead bowel, acute perioperative beta-blockade in the older patient, urinary retention, and anesthetic care for patients with skin breakdown.

Geriatric anesthesia is a rapidly growing and evolving field. The last few years have seen significant advancements in and important new modalities for addressing the needs of an aging population. The editors of Geriatric Anesthesiology's second edition are uniquely situated to put together a text highlighting both essential knowledge and recent breakthroughs of importance to any who work with the elderly. For the second edition, the editors have introduced a streamlined chapter format and have assembled a selection of chapters intended to deepen the understanding of anesthesic management of the geriatric patient.