Particularities of acute appendicitis in the elderly in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Acute appendicitis in the elderly remains a disease that is difficult to diagnose. Its prognosis is not reassuring. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and therapeutic aspects of acute appendicitis in the elderly at the regional hospital of Tenkodogo.

We led into the surgery department of the regional hospital of Tenkodogo, a retrospective study which covered the period going from 2010 to 20 14. Ali patients aged 65 and over who had acute appendicitis were included.

41 patients were identified, representing 9% of ail acute appendicitis diagnosed during the study period.

Their mean age was 71 years. Men were more numerous, with 27 cases (65.8%). The average delay of consultation was 4 days. Abdominal pain and vomiting were the main reasons for consultation. Pain and abdominal tenderness in the right iliac fossa were found in 8 of 41 cases (19.5%). Ultrasonography was the main supplementary examination. It showed an increase of the appendix dimensions in 24 cases (58.5%). The average time to diagnosis was 1.8 days. Ail patients underwent open surgery. Post-operative complications were noted in 15 patients (36.6%). The mean hospital stay was 7 days. One death was recorded, representing a mortality rate of 2.4%.

Acute appendicitis is a common abdominal emergency in the elderly. The diagnosis period is long and morbidity is important.