Acute appendicitis in the elderly.

A prospective study was done on 104 patients more than 60 years old with appendicitis. The clinical features are by and large, similar to that of the younger patient. However, four patients presented atypically with abdominal distension with little or no pain. A statistically significant increase in appendiceal perforation is found in patients more than 70 years old and in patients with prolonged delay in operation. However, delay on the part of the surgeon contributed only slightly to the high appendiceal perforation as 85.6 per cent of patients who were operated upon within 24 hours of admission. Appendicitis in the elderly patient appeared to progress to perforation faster and perforation occurred in about 40 per cent of patients within 24 hours of onset of symptoms. Five patients died and 29 postoperative complications occurred in 24 more patients. An associated medical disease is linked to a statistically significant increase in mortality. Appendiceal perforation and a total delay of more than 37 hours are associated with a statistically significant increase in morbidity.