Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) Practice Exam

Which post-operative complication is a geriatric patient more susceptible to due to their advanced age?

1. Anorexia

2. Hypothermia

3. Nausea

4. Pain

The correct answer is: Hypothermia

Geriatric patients are more susceptible to hypothermia as a post-operative complication due to several physiological changes that occur with aging. Older adults typically have a reduced ability to regulate body temperature because of factors such as decreased metabolic rate, loss of subcutaneous fat, and diminished thermoregulatory responses. In the post-operative setting, factors such as exposure to cooler operating room temperatures, the use of cold intravenous fluids, and impaired thermoregulation can further exacerbate the risk of hypothermia. Anorexia, nausea, and pain, although relevant concerns in post-operative care, are not specifically linked to the age-related physiological decline in the same way that hypothermia is. While elderly patients can experience these issues, their heightened risk of hypothermia correlates more closely with the effects of aging on metabolic and regulatory mechanisms within the body. This makes hypothermia a significant concern for geriatric patients recovering from surgery.