title: Appendicitis in the elderly: learn to discern the untypical picture.
abstract: Symptoms and signs of appendicitis in the elderly may be vague and referable to other abdominal diseases. Diagnosis is often delayed or missed, leading to a prolonged preoperative period and increased morbidity and mortality. In this study of elderly appendicitis patients, we noted a high incidence of ruptured appendixes. At least 80% of these patients could have been operated on earlier.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D003237:Connecticut; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications