Clinical Analysis of Appendicitis in the Elderly Over 60 Years of Age.

, Kim, Il Gun; , Heo, Tae Gil; , Lee, Jung Min; , Choi, Pyong Wha; , Park, Je Hoon; , Lee, Myung Soo; , Kim, Chul Nam; , Chang, Surk Hyo

doi:2007.23.6.441

Search: J Korean Soc Coloproctol Search

CLOSE

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Coloproctology 2007;23(6):441-447.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/jksc.2007.23.6.441

Clinical Analysis of Appendicitis in the Elderly Over 60 Years of Age.

Kim, Il Gun , Heo, Tae Gil , Lee, Jung Min , Choi, Pyong Wha , Park, Je Hoon , Lee, Myung Soo , Kim, Chul Nam , Chang, Surk Hyo

Department of Surgery, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea. gsnum1@ilsanpaik.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
As average life expectancies are prolonged, the elderly population is steadily increasing. The increasing number of elderly persons has been accompanied by cases of acute appendicitis in the elderly. In order to understand the clinical significance and to improve the treatment of elderly patients with appendicitis. we analyzed patients over 60 years of age with appendicitis.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 268 patients over 60 years of age who were pathologically diagnosed with appendicitis. We analyzed the patients' clinicopathologic factors and outcomes, dividing them into 3 age groups: 60~69, 70~79, 80 and over.
RESULTS
Of the 268 patients, there were 109 male and 159 female. The sex ratio was 1:1.46. The numbers of patients in each group were 169 (63.1%) in the 60-69 group, 73 (27.2%) in the 70~79 group, and 26 (9.7%) in the over 80 group. There was no difference in the leukocyte count and the time delay in surgical treatment between the groups. In the older groups, compared to the younger groups, there were more frequent paramedian and median incisions in the operation (P=0.02), a longer duration of postoperative admission (P=0.001) and starvation after the operation (P<0.001). In the pathologic findings, the gangrenous and abscess stages of appendicitis were more frequent in the older groups than in the younger groups (P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Early aggressive diagnostic intervention, such as ultrasound and CT, is essential in managing appendicitis in elderly patients who complain of vague abdominal pain.

Key Words: Appendicitis; Elderly

TOOLS

Share :

METRICS

1 Crossref
Scopus
1,705 View
8 Download

Related articles in ACP

A clinical study on acute appendicitis in children.1993 March;9(1)

Clinical Analysis of Postoperative Adhesive Intestinal Obstruction.1998 March;14(1)

A Clinical Analysis of Colorectal Cancer in Young and Elderly Patients.1998 June;14(2)

Clinical Analysis of Ulcerative Colitis.1998 June;14(2)

Clinical Analysis of Diverticulosis of the Cecum and Ascending Colon.1998 September;14(3)

ABOUT

ARTICLE CATEGORY

Browse all articles >

BROWSE ARTICLES

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Editorial Office: Room 1519, Suseo Hyundai Venture-vill, 10 Bamgogae-ro 1-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06349, Korea
Tel: +82-2-2040-7737 Fax: +82-2-2040-7735 E-mail: editor@coloproctol.org