Abstract

CHIAN CHANG, Víctor Eduardo; VICUNA RICARDO, Iván  and  BARACCO MILLER, Victor. Acute appendicitis in the elderly patient: Associated factors to greater post-operative mortality and morbility. Rev Med Hered [online]. 1996, vol.7, n.2, pp.62-67. ISSN 1018-130X.

Objective: To define the factor associated with higher post-surgical mortality and morbidity in acute appendicitis in elderly patients. Material and methods: We carried out a retrospective study which included 100 patients who were hospitalized between 1984 and 1994 at the Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza, in Lima, Perú. Results: Age of 70 or more years, duration of disease longer than 48h and the presence of perforated acute appendicitis (AA) with whether localized or disseminated peritonitis were the factors associated with higher post-surgical complications (p<0.05). The presence of perforated AA was also related to residual intra-abdominal abscess or entero-dermic fistulae (p=0.027) and gangrenous or perforated AA was associated with higher frequency of intected surgical wound (p<0.05). The prior history of cardiovascular problems was a related factor to the appearance of post-surgical complications in system (p<0.05). Perforated AA (p=0.027) and additional surgical procedure in the same time than appendicectomy (p=0.016) were associated with higher mortality rate. Conclusions: The advanced pathological stages of AA, as well as the presence of cardiovascular problems at the diagnostic time, is associated with a higher frequency of post-surgical complications. The concomitant presence of peritonitis associated with a higher frequency of post-surgical complications. The concomitant presence of peritonitis in associates with a fatal outcome. (Rev Med Hered 1996; 7: 62-67).

Keywords : Elderly; acute appendicitis; post-surgical complications; post-surgical mortality.

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