The nurse works in an emergency department in a town with a large proportion of retired persons. The nurse should consider which difference between older and younger adults as it pertains to emergency care?

Question

1. Younger patients are at greater risk for rib fractures and flail chest because their chests are not as compliant as those of older adults.
2. Older patients have a greater capacity to increase their cardiac output on demand, and therefore can tolerate greater blood loss than younger patients.
3. Older patients have an increased incidence of subdural hematomas because their veins are more fragile and less elastic compared to those of younger patients.
4. The aorta is comparatively closer to the surface in younger adults, so they are at greater risk of tearing injuries.

Answer 1

3
Rationale 1: The thorax of the older patient is less compliant and therefore more susceptible to injury.
Rationale 2: Older patients are less able to increase cardiac output on demand due to decreased compliance and a limited degree of compensatory ability.
Rationale 3: Older patients have an increased incidence of subdural hematoma because of the increased dural vein fragility and loss of elasticity with age.
Rationale 4: The aorta of the elderly patient is inelastic and more vulnerable to injury.