Perforated appendicitis in a septuagenarian

Appendicitis in the elderly is becoming an increasingly frequent clinical encounter due to the increased life expectancy in the human race over the last half-century. Appendicitis in this age group has, therefore, become relatively more common with an atypical presentation that incurs delay in diagnosis with attendant morbidity and mortality. We present a septuagenarian who presented atypically with a rapidly progressing feature of appendicitis that emphasizes the need for early operative intervention. In addition, the patient presented with other comorbidities that could detract from a diagnosis of appendicitis to the unwary.