Intestinal Ischemia in the Elderly
Mesenteric ischemia in the elderly is an uncommon but often fatal disorder for which the prognosis depends entirely on the speed and accuracy of the diagnosis. A high index of…
Diverticulosis and Acute Diverticulitis
Colonic diverticulosis is a common, usually asymptomatic, entity of Western countries, with an incidence that increases with age. When these diverticula become infected and inflamed, patients can present with a…
Fecal Incontinence in the Elderly
Fecal incontinence affects up to 20% of community-dwelling adults and more than 50% of nursing home residents, and is one of the major risk factors for elderly persons in the…
Diarrhea and Malabsorption in the Elderly
Acute and chronic diarrheal disorders are common problems at all ages. It has been estimated that 5% to 7% of the population has an episode of acute diarrhea each year…
Chronic Constipation in the Elderly
Chronic constipation is a common problem in the elderly, with a variety of causes, including pelvic floor dysfunction, medication effects, and numerous age-specific conditions. A stepwise diagnostic and therapeutic approach…
Oropharyngeal Dysphagia
Although the aging process per se can produce measurable changes in the normal oropharyngeal swallow, these changes alone are rarely sufficient to cause clinically apparent dysphagia. The causes of oropharyngeal…
Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the Elderly
This article reviews the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which will grow in prevalence as the population ages. Prognosis of late-onset ulcerative colitis…
Celiac Disease in the Elderly
It has become apparent recently that celiac disease, once believed to be primarily a childhood disease, can affect people of any age. Epidemiologic studies have suggested that a substantial portion…
Undernutrition and Anorexia in the Older Person
Minimizing frailty in older age is important to individuals and society, as the increasing prevalence of chronic disease is leading to greater disability and health care costs. Nutritional frailty can…
Postoperative Management of Crohn Disease
Crohn disease often recurs after surgical resection. Despite extensive research in the prevention of postoperative Crohn disease, optimal management strategies have yet to be defined. Risk of disease recurrence needs…
