Acute appendicitis: Age, evolution, time and complications

Abstract

Antecedents: Inflammation of the appendix is frequent in medical practice. It is a benign pathology but can have fatal complications related with delay in the diagnosis.

Patients and method: 209 cases of acute appendicitis operated on laparoscopy or laparotomy in the period from January, 2004 to July, 2005 were revised. The objective was to investigate the frequency of complications due to acute appendicitis and to determine the relationship with age and the evolution time.

Results: The frequency of complicated appendicitis was 26%. Patients with 30 years old or less had 7% and those over 60 had 66%. It was also observed that patients admitted before 24 hs had complications in 7%, between 25 and 48 hs 43%, from 49 to 72 hs 26% and those after 72 hs 58%.

Conclusion. Acute appendicitis with long evolution time presenting in older patients frequently has complications.