title: Perforated appendicitis in a septuagenarian.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Drumheller Hospital, Drumheller AB, T0J 0Y1, Canada. robeesanda@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Sanda
authors.forename: Salah I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Seliem
authors.forename: Elrasheed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashraf
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents