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Clinical features of acute appendicitis in the elderly

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The clinical features of acute appendicitis in the elderly are masked by:

  • laxity of the abdominal musculature and hence late or non-development of rigidity
  • typically slower presentation of other classical symptoms
  • delayed presentation because pain is ascribed by patient to constipation and laxatives are taken instead
  • similarity of presentation to intestinal obstruction, which is more common in this age group; enemas prescribed for obstruction may enhance peritonitis

Consequently, elderly patients with acute appendicitis tend to present later in the course of the illness and have a worse prognosis.

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