Perforated appendicitis in the elderly masquerading as acute coronary syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Evaluation of acute appendicitis in the elderly presents a diagnostic challenge to the surgeon. The diagnosis is often difficult to establish on account of general poverty of history and clinical signs, comorbidity and the unreliability of diagnostic procedures. Due to this, morbidity and mortality statistics in this group of patients is unacceptably higher than the general population.


METHODS
Individual case report and literature review.


RESULTS
We present an unusual case of perforated appendicitis masquerading as acute coronary syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient's education, high index of suspicion, and an aggressive surgical approach is needed if the outcome among the elderly population is to be improved.
Agaba
Emmanuel Atta
EA
Department of Surgery, Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry, United Kingdom. eagaba@hotmail.com
Goon
Patrick
P
Pushdary
Kamal
K
Wong
Ling S
LS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome