title: [Acute appendicitis in aged patients].
abstract: Over the course of 12 years (1977-1989) 40 patients aged over 50 (mean age 67 years) with acute appendicitis (Group I) were admitted to and operated in the Department of Surgery at Casalpusterlengo Hospital. Diagnosis was always confirmed by pathological examination. The following data were taken into account: the intervals between initial symptoms and admission, and between admission and surgical treatment; clinical and laboratory findings, the type of laparotomy, length of hospital stay, morbidity and mortality. Findings were also compared to two control groups composed of the same number of patients affected by acute appendicitis but aged between 1-20 years old (Group III) and between 21-50 years old (Group II). When data from all three groups were compared, it was found that there was a higher percentage (47.5%) of perforated appendices among the eldest group of patients; this may be explained by the fact that disease was more aggressive in these patients or that there was a longer interval between the appearance of symptoms and hospital admission. There was also a higher number of postoperative complications in group 1 (Group I = 27%; Group II = 7.5%; Group III = 2.5%). There was a greater incidence of complications in perforated appendicitis (Group I = 47%; Group II = 20%; Group III = 1 patient over 2) and the most common complication was wound infection (44%) followed by prolonged ileus (15%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Ospedale Civile, Casalpusterlengo, Milano.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pricolo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Voltolini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Croce
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous
vernacular_title: Le appendiciti acute nel paziente anziano.