The review method was used to analyze domestic and foreign literature on the prevention and risk assessment of postoperative complications in elderly and senile patients. Currently, there is a pronounced trend towards an increase in life expectancy, and, therefore, the age of patients in need of surgical care is also increasing. According to statistics, patients over 65 years of age are four times more likely to require surgical treatment, and, therefore, there is a growing need for an increase in the volume of geriatric care. Considering the presence of many concomitant diseases, a decrease in physiological functions, polypharmacy, gradual cognitive impairment, a complex of geriatric syndromes in elderly patients, the question of a deeper geriatric assessment of the condition of patients in the perioperative period, methods of preventing postoperative complications in this group of patients becomes urgent.