Acute appendicitis in the elderly; Pakistan Ordnance Factories Hospital, Wah Cantt. experience.

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical experience in diagnosis, management and outcome of elderly patients presenting with acute appendicitis at the Pakistan Ordnance Factories Hospital, Wah Cantt. METHODS: All patients of age 60 years and above presenting with abdominal pain were prospectively reviewed. Patients who were diagnosed as acute appendicitis were included in this case series which was conducted at Pakistan Ordnance Factories Hospital, Wah Cantt, from December 2006 to May 2008. Detailed history and clinical examination, co-morbid conditions, clinical manifestations and post-operative outcome were recorded. The diagnosis was made on the basis of history and clinical examination. The diagnosis was also confirmed on histopathology. All the details were recorded on a questionnaire. Approval from our own ethical committee was taken. SPSS 16 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients presented with acute abdominal pain. Of them 42 were admitted with tenderness in right iliac fossa and lower abdomen. Finally, 36 (48%) were diagnosed as acute appendicitis and were included in the study. There were 20(56%) men and 16(44%) women with age range of 60 to 78 years and a mean age of 65.5 +/- 4.2 years. Associated illness occurred in 25(70%) patients. Symptoms included abdominal pain in 32(90%), nausea in 17(48%), and emesis in 9(25%) patients. Signs included right lower quadrant tenderness in 26(74%) patients, leukocytosis in 17(47.2%), and fever (>99'F) in 11(30.5%). Laparoscopy was used as an important diagnostic as well as therapeutic modality. Of the patients, 9 (25%) had gangrenous appendix, while 12 (33.3%) had perforated appendix. A total of 12 (33.4%) patients developed complications. Hospital stay was considerably increased in patients with a delayed diagnosis (5-7 days), perforations (5-9 days) and postoperative complications (5-15 days). One patient, a known case of ischaemic heart disease, died of cardiopulmonary arrest. CONCLUSION: Acute appendicitis needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of all patients with abdominal pain. A high index of suspicion is necessary to guard against mis-diagnosis, especially in the elderly. Delays in presentation and diagnosis are associated with higher rates of perforation and, hence, higher morbidity. Repeated clinical examination, a high index of suspicion and urgent investigations are necessary for a correct and rapid diagnosis.