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Review Papers | Medical Science | Belgium | Volume 8 Issue 8, August 2019

Appendicitis in Elderly - Not a Usual Form of Appendicitis

Arianna Grilli | Sorin Cimpean | Marie Therese Marechal | Benjamin Cadiere | Gloire a Dieu Byabene | Guy-Bernard Cadiere

Abstract: Acute appendicitis tends to have a more complicated course in advanced age, being associated with higher risk of complications. In the elderly population, however, the presentation may be atypical and cause a diagnostic delay, this can be explained by physiological changes in the elderly, such as decreased immune response, bowel function and pain perception. A misdiagnosis occurs in about half of the patients and almost 25 % of the patients requires more than 24 hours to receive the correct diagnosis, increasing the risk for perforation which rises to 70 % in these subjects. The acute appendicitis must be considered in the differential diagnosis evaluation for abdominal pain in elderly, in order to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: appendicitis, elderly

Edition: Volume 8 Issue 8, August 2019,

Pages: 509 - 512

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