Appendicectomy in the elderly, incidence and operative findings

The incidence during the last decades of acute appendicitis and the number of appendicectomies in the elderly, 60 years of age and older were studied. In addition, the incidence of the disease and of appendicectomy and the preoperative findings were studied in a well defined population during the twelve year period from 1969 to 1980. The results showed that there was no increase in the sex- and age-specific incidence of acute appendicitis in the elderly. However, there has been a significant decrease in the incidence of acute appendicitis in the elderly during the last four decades. Furthermore, a significant difference was found in the findings in the elderly operated upon because of suspected acute appendicitis compared to the younger age groups. The percentage of perforated appendices and normal appendices was significantly higher in the elderly. This difference might be of importance to the surgeon in his approach to an elderly patient admitted because of suspected acute appendicitis.