The hemodynamic management of elderly patients with sepsis

Sepsis is among the most common reason for admission to intensive care units throughout the world. In the US and most Western nations sepsis is largely a disease of the elderly. Management of elderly patients with severe sepsis is challenging. Early recognition of this syndrome, together with the early administration of appropriate antibiotics and cautious fluid resuscitation is the cornerstone of therapy. Echocardiography together with non-invasive or invasive hemodynamic monitoring is recommended in patients who have responded poorly to fluids or have significant underlying cardiac disease. This paper reviews the hemodynamic changes that characterize sepsis, particularly as they apply to elderly patients and provides recommendations for the management of these patients.