Acute appendicitis in the geriatric patient

Background Acute appendicitis in geriatric patients represents the 7– 12% of all acute abdomen cases. Elderly patients with appendicitis more frequently show generalized outwearing pain, with abdominal wall rigidity and distension and appearance of abdominal mass. The difference in the clinical presentation between the young and the aged patient may be due to the elderly person's delay in addressing himself to the doctor, and not to differences in the pathologic process itself. The aim of this trial is to underline, through an analysis of the patients who underwent surgery for suspected acute appendicitis at the Division of General and Emergency Surgery of the University of Perugia, Hospital S. Maria in Terni, the clinical aspects of this pathology in the geriatric patient, in order to stress out the useful elements that may lead us to a early diagnosis and a reduced post operatory mortality.