The management of surgery and therapy for rheumatic disease.

As a result of advances in surgery, anesthesiology, and perioperative care, patients of more advanced age and medical complexity are now considered suitable candidates for surgical intervention. Rheumatologists, though frequently called upon to advise their patient in the surgical domain, may not be fully cognizant of the principles underlying medical consultation and therapy in perioperative setting. This paper provides an approach for guiding such medical care with a particular focus on the concerns pertinent to patient suffering from a chronic rheumatic disease.