Related Experiment Videos
Acute appendicitis in the elderly. An analysis of 47 patients over 80 years of age
1Department of Surgery, Karolinska Institutet at Danderyd Hospital, S-18288 Danderyd, Sweden.
Objective:
To correlate the preoperative findings, perforation rate and the mortality rate after appendicectomy in the elderly age.
Design:
Retrospective study.
Setting:
Teaching hospital, Sweden.
Subjects:
Forty-seven patients over 80 years of age who have undergone acute appendicectomy.
Main Outcome Measures:
Operative and postoperative outcome after acute appendicectomy in the elderly.
Results:
The complication rate after appendicectomy was statistically significantly increased to 28% as well as the mortality increased to 8.5% in the elderly patients when compared to the other age group. The perforation rate was also statistically significantly increased to 64% when compared to the same group.
Conclusions:
Our study shows that at the time of clinical symptoms, inflammatory parameters in acute appendicitis in the elderly do not differ from the young patient, but patients older than 80 years of age have a high risk of perforation, morbidity and mortality.
Related Concept Videos
Appendicitis
Appendicitis-I: Introduction
Etiology: Appendicitis can arise from various causes, primarily rooted in the obstruction of the appendix lumen. Factors contributing to this obstruction include fecal accumulation, lymphoid hyperplasia and, in...
Appendicitis-II: Diagnostic Studies and Management
Diagnosing Appendicitis
It requires a multifaceted approach, starting with a detailed physical examination to pinpoint the location and nature of the pain and identify any associated symptoms. Laboratory tests play a crucial role. A complete Blood Count (CBC) typically reveals leukocytosis (an increased number of...
The Effect of Aging on Tissues