Falls resulting in neck of femur fractures are common in the elderly. Often multiple comorbidities can make management and diagnosis of such a polyfactorial condition difficult, particularly with Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Indeed, poorly managed AD may contribute to falls. We present our management of an 87-year-old woman, on rivastigmine for AD, who presented with a collapse episode-attributed to rivastigmine-resulting in a neck of femur fracture. Furthermore, we perform a literature review of the pharmacology of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and how their use in AD may contribute to bradyarrhythmias.
Keywords: arrhythmias; dementia, alzheimer’s type; perioperative care; safety; unwanted effects / adverse reactions.
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